Conversations

George and his real-life love story

“When we got married we laid our cards on the table – about what we wanted for ourselves, our children, our future our lives everything. We were not rich – we were middle to maybe middle-upper class- my children went to very expensive private schools where they learned French and German very unusual for a school in Buenos Aires at that time- I worked in international banking. Now it’s all gone in the crash and I am driving this cab sending money to my daughter and son in Brazil when I can.

Carmen – I came home and found my husband in bed with two women – it was the end and now fifteen years later I am looking, I am ready to be married again- I am looking everywhere.

Cashier: Are you sure this is how you want to spend your time and money; consuming I mean?

Customer: Oh well I.. ummm.. I don’t. I don’t know.

Cashier: Why do you come here so often. No family? No kids? Are you alone?

Customer: Did you get my discount card? Always like to make sure the card is swiped.

Cashier: Have you thought much about the future? Where will you be in ten years?

Still, spending lonely afternoons filling your closet with clothes at designer discounts?

Conversation with Erisa

Erisa says ” All of my family members were killed. They killed everyone, burned our houses down, took our land. There is nothing to go back to. Things are better now because they have told us what they have done. We do not have any family left in Rwanda. No property. Others still had family members. All of mine are gone.

Still it is good they finally told the truth. It helps.

They are gone but now they have confessed.

They have told the rest of the villagers what they’ve done.

It was a slow process of remembering as people from the villages would meet each week and recount exactly what they remember until slowly the picture was filled.

Brothers, sisters, fathers, sons, gone. Somehow it helps me to know they did it.

To hear them admit it. 1 million or more murders are too many to be handled by the law.

Well, now we must go to lunch. Life must go on. I cannot remain sad anymore.

Palm Trees

Palm trees with phantom wings whisper a lullaby Across the wind and sand and sky

Grey white whirling clouds fall free mysterious and wise in a curtain of light