La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I WOKE UP AT 9:37 this morning. No cats. At first I thought it must be 9:37 at night. But it was too light in the bedroom. So I knew San Geraldo had given the cats their morning treats. There was no other way they’d let me sleep. I walked into his office and I said, “Oh, you gave the cats their treats. What a sweetheart.” He said, “No. I have no idea why they’ve been so quiet.” I walked through the dining area and there was no sign of the cats. I thought they were probably out on the terrace. I began to worry something was wrong. I walked into my office and I heard the pitter pat of little cat feet. By the time I turned around, the top image is what I saw. I said, “So, boys!” and two cats were nearly airborne. They were in the kitchen before me. I still have no idea why they let me sleep. And, as it is with The Kid Brother, it’s near impossible to get them to answer a direct question.
Maria and her parents head off tomorrow. We’re going to be miserable without them. Maria has fallen in love with the monument to the peseta which stands nearby on the Paseo. She calls it “the coin” and insists on visiting every night. As you can see from the first photo below (taken back in 2013 during our first year in Fuengirola), the structure has several different-sized arches. One is large enough for me to walk through and I sometimes do along my way. The others are kid-sized and Maria and most other kids think they are the coolest things to explore.
The second photo shows Alfonso Friday night after the first 90 or so passes. That was the night they texted me at 10:30 to see if we wanted to meet for ice cream. We were finishing dinner, watching a movie, and too tired to get dressed and head back out. Alfonso and Cristina felt the same, but Maria wanted to go out and party.
Our big aloe vera planters were moved a while back when the hall windows were washed. Every time I walked by, I said to myself, “I need to fix that.” Today, I finally did so. I didn’t put on any safety wear (click here). I was just shoving a couple of planters a few inches (because, yes, a few inches do make a difference).The final photo will show you how well that went.
Tomorrow night, we celebrate our 40th anniversary with Elena, Tynan, and their adult children, Alexander and Paula. I made a reservation at Elena’s favorite chiringuito. We’ll sit on the beach and enjoy a fish feast.
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ME DESPERTÉ A LAS 9:37 esta mañana. Sin gatos. Al principio pensé que debían ser las 9:37 de la noche. Pero había demasiada luz en el dormitorio. Entonces supe que San Geraldo les había dado a los gatos sus aperetivos matutinos. No había otra forma de que me dejaran dormir. Entré a su oficina y dije: “Oh, le diste a los gatos sus aperetivos. Qué cariño.” Él dijo no. “No tengo idea de por qué han estado tan callados.” Caminé por el comedor y no había señales de los gatos. Pensé que probablemente estaban en la terraza. Empecé a preocuparme de que algo andaba mal. Entré a mi oficina y escuché el golpeteo de las pequeñas patas de gatos. Cuando me di la vuelta, la imagen superior es lo que vi. Dije: “¡Entonces, chicos!” y dos gatos estaban casi en el aire. Estaban en la cocina antes que yo. Todavía no tengo ni idea de por qué me dejaron dormir. Y, como sucede con El Hermanito, es casi imposible lograr que respondan una pregunta directa.
María y sus padres parten mañana. Seremos miserables sin ellos. María se ha enamorado del monumento a la peseta que se encuentra cerca del Paseo. Ella lo llama “the coin” [la moneda] e insiste en visitarla todas las noches. Como puede ver en la primera foto a continuación (tomada en 2013 durante nuestro primer año en Fuengirola), la estructura tiene varios arcos de diferentes tamaños. Uno es lo suficientemente grande como para que pueda caminar y, a veces, lo hago a lo largo del camino. Los otros son del tamaño de un niño y María y la mayoría de los otros niños piensan que son las cosas más geniales para explorar.
La segunda foto muestra a Alfonso después de los primeros 90 o más pases. Esa fue la noche en que me enviaron un mensaje de texto a las 10:30 para ver si queríamos encontrarnos para tomar un helado. Estábamos terminando de cenar, viendo una película y demasiado cansados para vestirnos y salir. Alfonso y Cristina sentían lo mismo, pero María quería salir de fiesta.
Nuestras grandes macetas de aloe vera se mudaron hace un tiempo cuando se lavaron las ventanas del pasillo. Cada vez que pasaba, me decía a mí mismo: “Necesito arreglar eso.” Finalmente, lo hice hoy. No me puse ninguna ropa de seguridad (haz clic aquí). Solo estaba empujando un par de maceteros unos centímetros (porque sí, unos centímetros sí marcan la diferencia). La foto final te mostrará lo bien que te fue.
Mañana por la noche, celebramos nuestro 40 aniversario con Elena, Tynan, y sus hijos adultos, Alexander y Paula. Hice una reserva en el chiringuito favorito de Elena. Nos sentaremos en la playa y disfrutaremos de un festín de pescado.

• Del 1 de enero al 28 de febrero de 2002, tanto la peseta española como el euro fueron de curso legal.


• Coca-Cola de San Geraldo en Mesón Salvador, con el amor de Adrián.

• Pescado al estilo de Fuengirola. (En uno de los chiringuitos menores.)

• Hice dos agujeros en el otro antebrazo.
I suspect the cats knew you needed the rest.
David:
Sure. That would be so like them.
You really do keep up a running battle with your houseplants! It’s very strange to erect a monument to currency, isn’t it? Although people DO get weirdly attached to it. The British never adopted the Euro and they’re very insistent on keeping pennies in circulation, even though (as in the USA) pennies are virtually useless. (The UK has 2p coins too, also useless.)
Funny about the cats. They look terrified! LOL
Steve:
I thought the peseta monument was a strange thing, but at least it’s a popular spot for photos and for kids to play. When we arrived here there was a slot where you could drop your old and worthless pesetas. A few years ago, the slot was covered with a medallion.
People were probably throwing cigarette butts in there!
Steve:
I wouldn’t be surprised.
Apparently, my mother, even though she didn’t know you, was right about you also: You’ll never learn!!
Happy Early Anniversary!!!
Bob:
Thanks for the anniversary wishes. I do learn. I haven’t trimmed or watered YET THIS WEEK in short sleeves. I was just moving pots!
They pulled a Mr. Mestopheles on you.
Oh those crazy cats! What would be do without them?
Urspo:
They were well-behaved this morning, too. I don’t get it. Maybe they don’t like my cooking.
Maybe the heat is subduing the cats? Or they were just waiting for the magic …..’so, boys!’
Jim:
They didn’t wake me up this morning either. Maybe it’s because we’ve been leaving the terrace door open for them all night.
The fish are amazing
John Gray:
We’ll be at a really good chiringuito tonight!
The fish look wonderful. I miss the Japanese fresh caught fish they squared and cooked around the fire. Nothing better. Crispy fish, Rice, pickles soup gosh I miss that.
cheers
Parsnip:
We’ll enjoy the Spanish version tonight.
In the case of the fish, neither heads nor tails was a winner…at least, for them.
You’re gonna miss that girl. 😔
Happy Almost Anniversary! XO
Mary:
I AM going to miss her! I get one last coffee with them today.
Oh, darn! (about poking holes and scratching your arm)
Oh, darn, again… about Maria and parents heading home 🙁
Oh, hey! Huge congratulations on your 40th anniversary! Love!
Judy:
I need to clean up the aloe vera and it’s too hot for long sleeves… Hmmm. I get to see Maria and parents one more time for coffee today. It’s going to be sad. Thanks for the 40th congrats. I can’t believe it.
Ouch! Maybe the “so boys” don’t trust SG with their treats. Fortieth anniversary! That’s exciting. I hope you stay in touch with Maria and her family for years and years. I want to know if she’s still a partier when she grows up. I bet she will be.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
I’d be worried the boys just don’t like my cooking, but they’ve cleaned their plates both yesterday and today. We all hope to remain close for a lifetime. What a special and unusual friendship. SG and I had a huge catered bash for our 1st anniversary, another for our 10th. I don’t know how it could be 40 years already — I’m only 27!
hope you never come across a coin slot for that coin!
Wilma:
Oh what a thought!
Is that coin the price of admission?
Kirk:
Maybe that’s why people are always hanging out around there.
40 years? Wow! Happy Anniversary tomorrow!
Jennifer:
Thanks! It’s already today here. And, yes, Wow!