But before.

By Gregorio Duvivier.

Translated by me.

Original at: http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/gregorioduvivier/2013/07/1318207-mas-antes.shtml

She left home slamming the door behind her. But before, he had told her to go fuck herself. But before, she had asked him to clean up the mess he had made. But before, he had poured wine on the rug. But before, she had doubted he would pour wine on the rug. But before, she had said that it was not her fault he didn’t have a job. But before, he had said she didn’t need to rub in his face that he didn’t have money to buy a new rug. But before, she had said her mother deserved to be respected, after all, she had furnished the flat, from the fan to the rug. But before, he had said that her mother was a cow. But before, her mother had left the flat slamming the door behind her. But before, he had asked her mother to leave, preferably without slamming the door behind her. But before, her mother had said he was getting fat. But before, he had said her mother was getting old. But before, her mother had asked him if he had found a job. But before, he had said that her mother arriving suddenly would be the last straw. But before, her mother had arrived suddenly. But before, they had kissed and apologized and promised never to fight again. But before, he had asked her why nothing he ever did was good enough. But before, she had complained he didn’t know how to open a bottle of wine. But before, he tried opening the bottle of wine. But before, she had suggested he opened the bottle of wine. But before, they had kissed. But before, they had dropped off their children at his sister’s house. But before, they had said that tonight would be a beautiful night. But before, she had said she was very proud of the husband he was. But before, he had cried because this was not how he imagined himself at 35. But before, he had been rejected at the job interview. But before, she had said she trusted him blindly. But before, he had said it was only a job interview, and that nothing was certain yet. But before, they had agreed to celebrate both things: their anniversary and the new job. But before, they had woken up and realized they had spent the past seven years together. But before, they had been happy. That was before.

Introducciones

So, I'm doing this because my mum told me to. I'm not kidding. She has been bugging me to write a blog since I was about 16. Now I am 20 and living in a different country. By differerent I mean different from the one where I've been living since I was 12 years old, England, and also different from the one where I was born, Brazil. Although it is closer to the latter than to the former. To sum it up I am in Uruguay, the second smallest country in South America and the daughter of Brazil and step-daughter of Argentina (many Uruguayans would kill me for saying that) but I only mean it historically. Culturally it is distinct from both, though it has imported some qualities from both. Something I will talk about very much in my following posts:

I solemnly swear to keep you updated on my advertures in the river of painted birds (that's what the word 'Uruguay' means).

I will post about everything and anything I find interesting (I hope you find it interesting too). Heads-up: mainly travel, food, translation of columns, articles and short stories........

This is my first (and very short) post.

Are you happy now, mum?

Besos from the Río de la Plata.