Adiós
Dear Anton Pavlovitch,
Here's another word that would surely make you look puzzled for a moment--until your fabulous sense of humor came to the rescue, that is: "Facebook." It would take too long to explain what it means and it would be pointless, because it's not interesting. In fact, I'm beginning to find it more boring every day. One of the few reasons to go on using Facebook at all is the chance to say goodbye to people I loved who have left for the moon. I did it yesterday after learning that a fabulous actress named China Zorrilla had died at 92 in her native Uruguay.
Marvellous China Zorrilla! I wish I could send her on the moon the post I published on Facebok:
There's poetic justice in learning only now that you passed over a month ago, on Septembder 17th, for the concept of time never really applied to you, or to the likes of you. What you spent your whole life doing has to do with eternity. You will be remembered as one of the greatest actresses in movie history. As simple as that.
Yet, what you did in Elsa y Fred, or Conversaciones con Mamá is not merely the work of a great actress. More likely, it's one more evidence that God likes to play a game with us, assuming the appearance of someone who's about to go in front of the camera to play a scene. He must have good reasons to do it with so few people. In this particular case His choice was a raving-mad-looking Uruguayan lady who never fails to look like someone born with more than than the usual share of light every human being is born with. Some of His other choices have included Giulietta Masina, Liv Ullmann, Maggie Smith, Meryl Streep, Judy Holliday, Vanessa Redgrave ...
Life was much better than it would have been if I hadn't gone to the movies to see you do your work. In my imagination, when you get to the moon, there will be a standing ovation. The audience will cry, "Bravo, China!" just because you appeared.
As for me, I'll be around a little longer and remember you to the end. In the new moon, I will look to the stars up there and try to visualize the China Zorrilla constellation. I will laugh like a happy kid when I manage. People will look at me with a puzzled face and whisper: "Crazy!" Since I don't know how to send flowers to the moon, that will be my tribute to you.
Rest in peace, mi amor.