OUR SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS (An anecdote)

I once lived for a couple of years in a remote village on the high plate of Granada in the south of Spain. In all I lived some 7 years in Spain so my Spanish is fluent.

Now about those People in that village, Alhama de Granada if you ever around there, the people in Alahama are mostly old people (the young moved for work in the big towns ) and they use to stroll out when the weather is nice all of them sit together in the main Plazas, or on the Terasas, the wide side walks next to the Cafés and Bars, and in such a small
mountain village of some 5000 people they have over 30 very active Bars, restaurants,
hotels and even 4-5 discos, dance floors with the most advanced illumination
and great dancing.

The village is located on a top of a moderate mountain and from the main Plaza one can watch the deep creek with the river Rio Alhama that runs deep inside that hidden canyon, a typical geological structure everywhere in that side of Andalucia.

The people in shops and bars when you walk into it they usually raise their eyes and take a short glace and the ask you if there is anything that they can give you. This is quiet normal isn’t it, still in the way they turn to you, they turn to anyone in the world; a sharp glance is what they need to see who you are, with out wonder or doubt they don’t mind how good your Spanish is,and they never even think of correcting you. They will have you with the full personal rights that anyone in the world has – including themselves.They are ancestors of Muslim Arabs, Ancient Jews and Roman Christians…so they could never take a real emotional stand on neither side. Also to just complete the foreword of my anecdote; if one day you go over to Andalucia, in the villages and towns, unlike in Barcelona, if they give you tapa, a small topping dish on your drink, its free. They will never charge for a Tapa I used to scroll a lot in the village and in the canyon just like the locals used and they knew me. In fact with quiet a few I am very friendly, they visited my home in the village and we set together in the bars..

Any way to come to the point; one night, quiet late I was taking a walk in the rather dark terrace over looking the deep creek you could hear the quiet stream of the river under the tall trees that are still far below. And in that darkness stood an old man. He had his arms crossed lightly on his back and he was starring at the darkness. The sky was full with stars as there are only few street lights and he could hardly be seen standing there watching. When I passed closed by him I noticed that he was there. His name was Paco like many more in that area, paco is a nick for Francisco. Paco is way over eighty

now and he had gone through major cancer surgery since 40 years or so, and he
had told me so I know about his youth working in construction in Germany and
about all sort of surgery techniques that he was so excited about. That saved
his life.

Paco could not use his voice instead he has that delicate cover over his lower throat through which he talked in a whisper..

Paco could not use his voice instead he has that delicate cover over his lower throat through which he talked in a whisper. So I stopped by his side and stood watching the immeasurable warm sight, all was radiant in deep peace when he uttered Mire La Gloria ~

Watch The Glory

tags: [Our] [Search] [for] [Happiness] [Alhama]