October brings memories

When a family descends from a small town, despite the passage of time there are customs that are not lost, on the contrary, they are yearned for more every day, they become stronger in the memories of the descendants.

This is what happened to us a few weeks ago: when we saw up close the celebration of the Virgen del Rosario in Ichocán, we were reminded of our parents who hurriedly prepared their luggage to go to town a few weeks before to start the dough, prepare the rich corn bread, the turcos, the treats, the bread ... everything, to wait for the visit of the children and grandchildren.

The old people are already laid to rest, and those of us who remain have not learned enough, but the intention goes further. Thus, with the old recipes of the grandmothers, this year we learned to prepare some of those sweets. Hopefully with practice we will improve the flavors although, as my children say, by gas oven it is not the same as by wooden oven.

And the fact is that when we remember the dough, other memories also come flooding in, such as the smell of the wood stove, the hubbub of the boys climbing the trees to collect mouthworms, medlars; or those winners looking for the best stone to crush the others' conkers; also the murmur of the guinea pig and, of course, the memory of some conversations between neighbors or relatives:

- Good morning, sister, do me a favour: lend me your ruco, because my guinea pig has given birth.

- Of course, sister! I will when I find it and give it to you.

OR:

- Neighbor Pancho! Good Morning. Are you in?

- Good morning, Don Manuelito. Here I am, blinding a little alfalfa for the guinea pigs. Tell me what it will be.

- Lend me, Don Panchito, your pickaxe; Then I'll return it. I need to earth up and mine has the handle worn out. This week I fix it.

- Yes, Don Manuelito, of course. Take it.

These memories do not pass.

We recently learned of families who have returned from other cities to live in the village. They say there are now more inhabited houses. I think hopefully it's for the better. And it is not for wanting to return to the past, it is for the fear of losing what is left. You need to preserve those memories and practice them. These gestures of solidarity are no longer seen in these times; those good habits are being lost.

If we do not want more sad memories of this and other pandemics, it is better to rescue what makes us live healthy, in harmony, in peace with our neighbors and with nature. And, everything new that comes, if it is for the good, welcome.

Lola Paredes