Letter from my terrace in Palma 37 'An unknown source'

 

An unknown source

This letter is not original work of mine. I remember reading an article by a well-known journalist. It was only a few months ago but I can’t recall who it was. I can’t even remember if the newspaper was English or Spanish. It doesn't matter. It may even have been two separate articles and my memory has joined them together.  I gratefully acknowledge the debt and have no reservation about repeating the two stories for you now since I believe they are important.

The first one describes an interview between the writer John Kenneth Galbraith, the Canadian-American economist, diplomat and writer, over lunch in a restaurant.  Galbraith’s wife was present. I think it was Galbraith. If not, no matter. Anyone would be proud to have this story attributed to him. At the end of the meal Galbraith’s wife got up and then slowly and carefully threaded her way past the tables. They both followed her with their eyes. Galbraith was doing his best to help her on her way just by willing her on, and the journalist was worried that she might be caught up in the constant bustle of diners and waiters coming to and fro and somehow disappear entirely. She seemed very frail as she walked slowly across the room. To everyone in the restaurant she was just a little old lady making her way to the toilet at the end of her meal.

Galbraith looked at her with a smile and said to the journalist ‘Isn’t she wonderful!’ There wasn’t a prouder or happier man in the room. His wife was as beautiful as when he had first met her when she was a student.

Incidentally, Galbraith and his wife were married for 68 years.

The second story takes place in a train, a very busy train with passengers arriving quickly as they hurried to find a place before the train moved off.   An old couple made their way through the carriage. The husband struggled with a heavy case. His wife pushed him along impatiently and then sat down in an empty seat while he tried to lift the case to the luggage rack.

‘Put the case up there. Quickly now!’ she said. ‘Oh really, I could do it better myself.’ 

He struggled hard and finally managed to lift the case and put it on the rack.

As he sat down with a sigh, she continued, ‘Why did you take so long? We nearly missed the train and it would all have been your fault.’

Another elderly couple arrived soon after. They also found seats nearby. They were smiling as they puffed their way up the aisle. He too had a heavy case and looked up at the luggage rack with some concern but he just managed to lift the suitcase. His wife steadied him with her hand on his back as he swayed with the effort. They worked together as an experienced team.  Having dealt with the suitcase successfully she patted his shoulder. They smiled at each other and sat down.

‘We’ve made it,’ she said.

‘Yes, we’ve made it,’ he answered. ‘But only just!’

They both laughed and she took a packet of Bourbon biscuits from her handbag and gave him one.

I wish I could remember who wrote the article. But I am grateful to them.