Now that I am in my seventies and I’ve let my hair go gray, it’s a wonderful time to evaluate my life as if every event were an epilogue. Not as a goodbye or an ending, but as an opportunity to tie loose ends, to revisit, to rethink. It could be a trip, reading a book, seeing a film, visiting a museum or maybe a love affair (yes, romance is possible at any age!). I notice that in the dictionary “epilogue” appears only in singular, but I expect to enjoy many, thus the plural of the title. In Spanish there is also a verb “epilogar” which would be the seldom used “to epilogize” in English (careful the auto-correct will change it to apologize).
Come to think of it, I have been creating epilogues for a long time. Each of my books is an epilogue of sorts. Una noche en casa was a trip back home in Madrid, where I found out I didn’t belong anymore. American in Translation was a goodbye to Marine Corps life during the Vietnam conflict, to my parents and to my life as a single woman. Of course, finding my parents Spanish Civil War letters a few years ago became another epilogue which gave life to two more books: My Mother, That Stranger and Retrato del joven escritor Juan Luis Alborg. But the most obvious epilogue was Divorce After Death, the bittersweet farewell to the peripatetic Peter.
Epílogos, the Spanish reference on the title, shows that no matter how hard I try, my native language appears when it’s least expected. Remember, dear readers, that not only I speak with an accent, but I write with an accent as well. Feel free to correct my “ins /ons/ ats” or any other thorny expression that tricks me up. I guess this blog makes a “chica moderna” out of me who welcomes your comments and your visits. Hope to see you here often.
Hasta pronto, Concha
Dear chica moderna ,
Your hair is beautiful and you look gorgeous!
No corrections on your written English :-))
Best wishes for the launch of your blog !
Thanks, Ann. It takes one to know one! We are enjoying your paintings so much, Concha
I’m looking forward to reading your blog, Concha.
Many thanks, Elayne. Another chance to read together! Concha
It will be a treat to stay in touch visiting your blog.
Thanks so much, Marian. I think of you fondly every time I wear your beautiful necklace! Concha
Concha: I must have somehow conjured you up! I was thinking of you the other day and revisited My Mother, That Stranger. I’m happy about your blog! Best, Linda
Thanks always for your support, Linda. You often conjure me up, Concha
Concha querida:
Sin saberlo, pertenecemos a dos clubes en común, el de los cabellos plateados, o el club de las canas, y el de la guerra con las preposiciones inglesas. Qué hermosa idea la de los epílogos.
Abrazos,
Hortensia
Gracias mil, Hortensia. ¡Qué alegría saber que seguimos teniendo tantas cosas en común!
Un gran abrazo, Concha
Concha, how exciting! I like the concept, like the writing, like the new look! Gray hair suits you! Good luck with this new venture; I shall follow your blog with great pleasure.
Thanks for your kind words, Mary. I can’t wait to read your new book! Concha
Very impressive my friend. A great outlet for your creative mind. Te seguiré de cerca.
Felicitaciones
Muchas gracias, Fernando. Hasta pronto, Concha
Very excited about this!
So glad you are going to join in, Annette. Thanks, Concha
Querida Concha!
Me gusta tu idea de epílogos. Acabo de unirme al clube de los 70’s; el asunto me intimida un poco……Espero que, además de los epílogos, hay muchos prólogos que nos traen afuera de lo conocido o esperado !
Abrazos!
Tienes razón, Cécile, espero que haya mucho prólogos también.
Un gran abrazo, Concha
Looking forward to reading more epilogues.
Thanks so much, Concha