La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
We made a fairly last-minute decision Saturday to drive down to Fuengirola for a few hours. Pedro and Kathleen had been storing our old electronic/digital piano. They had planned to use it, but found they didn’t need it, so it had simply been taking up space and Pedro had asked if we wanted it back. Of course, San Geraldo wanted it, and we do have room for a piano of that size. So we rented a car, loaded the piano, went out for lunch with Luke, Beckett, and their parents. Pedro made a reservation at Primavera and told them who was coming. We were greeted with love and hugs and kisses. We had the best time. Luke is as sweet, kind, and handsome as ever, and 9 years old! Beckett is adorable and adorably devilish. The time with them passed too quickly. We then headed over to Tynan and Elena’s neighborhood where we spent some time having drinks (non-alcholic) with them, Paula, and Isa. Again, the time passed much too quickly. While at Primavera, our old neighbors came in. They have two daughters who, as San Geraldo says, are my girlfriends. They’re 10 and 6 and came running to give me hugs. What a brilliant day. We realized we don’t miss living in Fuengirola but we seriously miss our friends.
In my last post, I wrote about our group commute from Guilford, Connecticut, to New Haven Union Station. The train is called Shore Line East and it was a new service in the late 1980s when we lived in Guilford. It was so much more pleasant and relaxed than sitting in awful traffic every day. It was cheap at the time and they provided free bus service around New Haven that waited for the train to arrive. So we who lived in the tony communities along the Long Island Sound could travel to work in comfort while being subsidized. I don’t know if the pricing and service are still the same, but it was a way to cut down on traffic on the Connecticut Turnpike.
Along with Cesar and Daisy there were two other regular commuters in our group. Like San Geraldo and Cesar, they both worked at Yale Libraries. One was another gay man (San Geraldo and I are gay, in case you didn’t know). He was funny and absurdly pretentious, an often great combination. The other, the oldest of the group, was South Slavic. From a wealthy background. Successful. Intelligent. Serious looking. Always in tweeds or heavy knits. And excruciatingly haughty. The other five of us would have wonderful conversations that included stories and off-color jokes. She, however, did not approve. She would angrily snap her newspaper in front of her face, at the same time barking loudly in her deep, strong Slavic voice, “You boys and your bathroom talk!” Daisy, I guess, was just one of the boys.
One evening on the ride home, it was just the three of us. We were at the rear of the car with two sets of seats facing each other. She had her back to the wall. We were all reading. She held a paperback. Suddenly, she slapped the book open, face-down on her lap and, in a booming, deep, theatrical voice that could be heard throughout the train car, she asked, “What is a twat?!? T-W-A-T, twat!!!
SG leaned forward and whispered, “It’s a vulgar word for vagina.” She turned red and whispered, “And I just said it to the whole train.” Then she raised the book in front of her face and didn’t utter another word for the rest of the ride. Bathroom talk indeed.
I’ve begun with photos from our day Saturday and ended with Guilford Station.
El sábado tomamos una decisión de último momento: ir en coche a Fuengirola durante unas horas. Pedro y Kathleen habían estado guardando nuestro viejo piano electrónico/digital. Habían planeado usarlo, pero descubrieron que no lo necesitaban, así que simplemente había estado ocupando espacio y Pedro nos había preguntado si lo queríamos de vuelta. Por supuesto, San Geraldo lo quería, y tenemos espacio para un piano de ese tamaño. Así que alquilamos un coche, cargamos el piano, salimos a comer con Luke, Beckett y sus padres. Pedro hizo una reserva en Primavera y les dijo quién iba a venir. Nos recibieron con cariño, abrazos y besos. Nos lo pasamos genial. Luke es tan dulce, amable y guapo como siempre, ¡y tiene 9 años! Beckett es adorable y adorablemente diabólico. El tiempo con ellos pasó demasiado rápido. Después nos dirigimos al barrio de Tynan y Elena, donde pasamos un rato tomando algo (sin alcohol) con ellos, Paula, e Isa. Una vez más, el tiempo pasó demasiado rápido. Mientras estábamos en Primavera, vinieron nuestros ex vecinos. Tienen dos hijas que, como dice San Geraldo, son mis amiguitas. Tienen 10 y 6 años y vinieron corriendo a darme abrazos. Qué día más genial. Nos dimos cuenta de que no echamos de menos vivir en Fuengirola, pero sí echamos mucho de menos a nuestros amigos.
En mi último post, escribí sobre nuestro viaje en grupo desde Guilford, Connecticut, hasta la estación Union Station de New Haven. El tren se llama Shore Line East y era un servicio nuevo a finales de los años 80, cuando vivíamos en Guilford. Era mucho más agradable y relajado que estar sentado en un tráfico horrible todos los días. Era barato en ese momento y ofrecían un servicio de autobús gratuito por New Haven que esperaba a que llegara el tren. Así que los que vivíamos en las comunidades elegantes a lo largo del estrecho de Long Island podíamos viajar al trabajo con comodidad mientras recibíamos subsidios. No sé si el precio y el servicio siguen siendo los mismos, pero era una forma de reducir el tráfico en la autopista de peaje de Connecticut.
Junto con Cesar y Daisy (haz clic aquí) había otros dos viajeros habituales en nuestro grupo. Al igual que San Geraldo y Cesar, ambos trabajaban en las bibliotecas de Yale. Uno era otro hombre gay (San Geraldo y yo somos gays, por si no lo sabías). Era divertido y absurdamente pretencioso, una combinación a menudo genial. La otra, la mayor del grupo, era eslava del sur. De origen adinerado. Exitosa. Inteligente. De aspecto serio. Siempre con tweed o tejidos gruesos. Y terriblemente altiva. Los otros cinco teníamos conversaciones maravillosas que incluían historias y chistes subidos de tono. Sin embargo, a ella no le gustaba. Se golpeaba furiosa el periódico frente a la cara, al mismo tiempo que gritaba en voz alta con su voz profunda y fuerte eslava: “¡Ustedes, muchachos, y su charla en el baño!” Supongo que Daisy era uno de los chicos.
Una tarde, en el viaje a casa, éramos solo los tres. Estábamos en la parte trasera del vagón con dos juegos de asientos enfrentados. Ella estaba de espaldas a la pared. Todos estábamos leyendo. Ella sostenía un libro de bolsillo. De repente, abrió el libro boca abajo sobre su regazo y, con una voz retumbante, profunda, y teatral que se podía escuchar en todo el vagón del tren, preguntó: “¿¡Qué es un twat!? ¡¡¡T-W-A-T, idiota!!!
SG se inclinó hacia delante y susurró: “Es una palabra vulgar para referirse a la vagina”. Se puso roja, susurró: “Y se lo acabo de decir a todo el tren”! Luego levantó el libro frente a su cara y no pronunció ni una palabra más durante el resto del trayecto.
• Olivos hasta donde alcanza la vista.
• Cuando viajábamos, no había estación, solo una zona de grava y un andén básico de bajo nivel. La vieja estación abandonada, la sala de máquinas y la torre de agua se encontraban al otro lado de las vías. La estación fue demolida en 2000. Había habido un servicio, llamado Clamdigger, desde 1852 hasta 1972.
• La nueva estación se inauguró en 2005.
Gorgeous pictures, Mitch, thanks!
Oops, anonymous was Jan from Perth ;-)!
Jan from Perth:
Thanks! And taken through the window of a car moving at 120kph!
At least she didn’t yell, “What a twat!”
Who knows to whom she would have been speaking.
Bob:
She could be awful, so that moment was so satisfying.
Oh, that twat story made me laugh!
Debra:
We still laugh about it.
I don’t miss the office, except for the people. And I stay in touch with a couple of them. Local commuter rail lines are great, I have used the local VRE lines here when the subway was being rebuilt.
David:
That really was the best commute I’ve ever had.
Interesting transportation info! Twat=vulva. Vagina=birth canal. Speaking as the possessor of both, and wanting us to get it right. Boud, here on her soapbox.
Boud:
Most dictionaries say twat is actually slang for vulva or vagina. (Besides, most people don’t know the difference anyway!) But, to be more precise: Vulva=female genitals. Vagina=birth canal.
Well, that new Guilford station IS quite schmancy. I’m glad that you got to go to Fuengirola and see some old friends!
Steve:
What a change in Guilford. Daisy says the price is still low. It was so good to spend time with friends. I look forward to building up friendships here.
What a day you both had with friends! Happy you were able to touch base with them as I am sure they were as well.
That commuter train story was hilarious! Thank you for sharing.
Jim:
She had such a haughty, superior attitude that it was truly satisfying and still makes me laugh.
In my younger days I got the word twit and twat confused. Oh the embarrassment.
Urspo:
That WOULD be embarrassing.
Good old Anglo-Saxon! The very best swear-words. Jx
PS I can’t help but compare and contrast the scenery of Spain and that of Connecticut. I know where I’d rather be!
Jon:
We lived along the Long Island Sound in a historic, picturesque village. At the time, it seemed so beautiful to me. But Spain sure is different!
Your shots of the scenery on the way to Fuengirola are magnificent. That’s the only word to describe them.
I’m sure you do miss your friends and that they miss you too. I bet you men are treated as royalty when you go back. As well you should be.
The haughty Slavic woman was missing out on a lot of fun. I hate to say this but she sounds like…a twat?
Ms. Moon, the Frequently Profane
Ms. Moon:
And those photos were taken through the windshield of a car moving at 70mph. I was really pleased. I can think of much worse (or better) words to describe the haughty Slavic woman. She could be very judgmental and unkind.
I just realized while watching a Bridget Jones movie that the British say, “Twaat,” and Americans say, “Twat”, rhymes with “what”? Do you know what I mean? This is ridiculously meaningless.
Ms. Moon:
Interesting — not meaningless. Brits DO say twat to rhyme with hat. I never really thought about that before.
What a hilarious story! Funny thing, though, is I’ve never considered it a particularly vulgar word. (as opposed to the one beginning with “C” that makes my kids cringe)
Kelly:
Twat is so much more commonly used that it’s often not vulgar at all. Most people think of it as meaning idiot or something like that. Yeah, I still am uncomfortable when someone uses the C word. And I can have a bit of a potty mouth.
I know you two were over the moon to see old friends!
Mistress Borghese:
I was so absorbed in conversation and happiness, I completely forgot to take pictures of us all.
That twat gave me my first great belly laugh of the day! Thanks, Scoot!
Tundra Bunny:
I didn’t find her to be a very nice person, so found it especially satisfying. It still makes me laugh.
I’m curious as to what she was reading.
Kirk:
All I can remember now is that it wasn’t anything high-brow. I think it was a popular romance novel of the time.
Oh, trains! I love trains.
Walt the Fourth:
So do I. My preferred mode of travel here.
Oh, I missed this yesterday! Me, too, I love trains 🙂
So very glad that you had a lovely, impromptu drive down to Fuengirola, and a lovely visit with friends 🙂
Judy C:
It really was a wonderful day. AND we have a piano again!
It’s so green,!,,,,!
finlaygray:
Yes. Very different from further south near Málaga.
When I first began teaching, I taught 4th grade. I remember taking my students to their PE class. They ran into the gym and the PE teacher told them all to sit on their twats. After the kids were out of earshot, I told her what he meant. She was horrified!
Michael:
Thanks for the reminder! I have another story to tell about SG and twats!
Well, a piano, good friends and that scenery??
Absolutely worth the trip, no?
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
Yes, absolutely worth the trip. SG realized last night we could have bought a brand new piano for not much more than we spent on the day. But it was worth it to see everyone.