Saturday, January 31, 2015

Harlow's Taking

She lived all of her life avoiding Death, but knowing that she belonged with since the day she was conceived.
Death takes us all one day or the next; she has a list and our taking is scheduled, but most of the times we are not prepared to embrace her. Harlow’s taking was scheduled for when she was in her mother’s womb. The abortion was not effective and she was taken to a foster home. There, when she was 5, she decided to fly jumping from a swing when she was the highest. Death held her arms open to take her, when a young man took Her place and was able to catch Harlow before falling. Death stared at them, in shock that she was fooled by this small girl and then there was a smirk in her lips: “We shall see.”
The third time that Harlow fooled Death was when she was 12 years old. This time, she saw Her face to face.
“You really are a cunning girl, are you not?”
“I know who you are and I am not afraid” said the child.
“Ha! Why should you, Harlow?” she caressed Harlow’s face, “With me you will be safer than ever.”
Harlow gave thought to this, but being so young she did not get the absolute message. The girl grew up to be a leader; she was smart, very independent and loved to take care of others. At the age of 25 she was already professing a career and marrying Caesar. Her husband was the only person that took care of her; she would not let anyone else do so. They adopted a little boy a year after, who was much beloved.
One morning, the young woman and Caesar found out the reason of his pain and endless couching of blood. Harlow had never cried so hard in her life, however, she decided to take action in the matter and work harder to take care of him and better his health.
Christmas passed, and the family was having such memorable moments. The kid’s voice was changing, and his dad was making fun at him. They both laughed and Harlow was so happy with her two favorite people in the world. They both stayed at the hospital for some days, giving Caesar all the love they could.
Caesar was released from the hospital and went back home. Things where better for the family, until something much disastrous happened: Harlow and Caesar’s child had a horrible accident on his bike. Caesar held him, while Harlow desperately called the ambulance. Then she saw Her, approaching. Harlow shook her head, “No… NO!”
“I must,” Death said.
“You bitch! I won’t let you take my child!” Harlow cried holding her boy.
The boy glanced at his mother, and the light of his eyes faded. Death felt the grief at heart, “I am not the One who schedules the takings, I am sorry.” And she left.
After the funeral, Harlow lost her appetite. She did everything she could to take care of Caesar, but she could barely take care of herself. She then became ill because of her sorrow and, once more, got a visit from Death. Harlow’s stare was blank; she did not care Death was near.
“You can take me, if that’s what you come for”
“Not at all,” Death sat on Harlow’s bed side “I came to tell you this is not your moment to die and still it is what you long for. I came to give you the choice to live and get your things in order”.
Harlow stared at Her with hate.
“… You still have your husband”.
Harlow made the effort to look a Death in the eye acknowledge what She said. It was true that she still had Caesar, whom she loved very much and shared her sorrow. She decided that it was time to take control again and go to her husband. His eyes where puffy, and the energy in the room was low. Harlow threw herself on him and he embraced her so strongly that it was surprising that there was even that kind of energy left. The next couple of days they gave each other support and love… until Death had her final visit. They were sleeping when She took them both. Harlow woke up in a different place, and saw her child; her husband beside them both. Harlow would have loved that her child had lived and her husband, but she was no longer infuriated with Death; instead, she greeted her old friend and enjoyed with her family in the Heavens; where their love was infinite and time did not exist.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Christmas Stories

My favorite Christmas story is the Nutcracker and after that, A Christmas Carol. Among the things I love about The Nutcracker is Tchaikosky's ballet score: it is so enchanting and delightfull, with wonderful, unforgetable melodies and orchestrations that capture the mysterious atmosphere of the story, showing how, for children, Christmas is a time where magic can happen. Besides Tchaikovsky's music, I love the story's setting in Germany around the Romantic era, I think. It must have been so wonderful to celebrate Christmas in a setting like that: a lovely European town arrayed with evergreen garlands, old carols and cheer, filled with elegantly dressed people preparing family feasts, decorating their Tannembaums with candles and ribbons in their warm homes, their children playing with their toys and their friends and relatives arriving in fancy dresses and having cordial conversations. 

One thing I've always thought as curious was the figure of Godfather Drosselmier, the old gentleman wearing an eyepatch who gave the Nutcracker to Marie. I've never understood exactly why does he appear on top of the 
Grandfather Clock when it strikes twelve and the magic spell begins. Was that 

an illusion or was he really there? Did he plan all the events so that Marie could break Nutcracker's spell? That, as well as the backstory about how Nutcraker was actually Drosselmier's nephew, and how he got the curse and earned the hatred of the Mouse King, has always haunted me as something mysterious and 
interesting.



As for Christmas Carol, one of the reasons why I like it is similar to the one I 
had mentioned for the Nutcracker: Christmas in an old European setting, this 
time in England. The other reason is the idea of feeling regret for all the bad 
deeds that one has committed and an honest desire to change, to make up for 
those wrong actions. Every time I'd watch one of the many film adaptations for the novel, I'd enjoy so much the scene where Scrooge wakes up and realizes 
he's alive and it's Christmas morning, and he is brimming with joy, actingcontrarily to his previous behavior! I loved how the joy of that scene was so  palpable, the joy of having been given the chance to set things right, to surprise others with gifts, to help the poor and suffering, to say jokes and cause others 
to laugh and feel merry. Hands down, A Christmas Carol is the most potent 
Christmas story. Charles Dickens: RESPECT!



Lastly, I wanted to mention that my favorite Rankin Bass ABC 25 Days of Christmas special is JACK FROST. It has such a sweet but sad love story!!! A girl 
loves Jack Frost, though she can't see or hear him, and Jack Frost in turn falls in 
love with her, so he decides to become human! BUT as a human he can't tell her that he's Jack Frost! In the end, she gets married to a knight in shining armor 
(literally!!!). When Jack goes to propose to he, he opens the door to see her in 
her bridal gown, arm in arm with her knight. Jack says aside to her father: "I 
thought she loved me!", as he looks down in disappointment. "What?", says her dad, "she told me she loved Jack Frost, but she never told me she loved you." 
This part KILLS ME. I always feel a terrible pang of pity in my heart for poor Jack Frost!! 

Later on, as the newly wed couple steps out of the church, Jack, who returned to his invisible form, lets a snowflake fall on the bride's nose (even though it 
was spring). 
"What was that?", asks the knight.
" An old friend kissed the bride", says the girl as a tear rolls down her cheek. Feels, man.
"You are, Kupla!"