HIDDEN TREASURES

In any given country, in any part of the world, a child may ask: "Mom/Dad, where do babies come from?"

People in Spain, like those in the US and numerous other Western/European countries, don't have to think too hard about what to tell a child when the timing is just not right for the truth. Long ago, the market capitalized on the image of a stork, carrying a baby by it's beak.

Storks, duh. Ok, so like the Easter bunny and Santa Claus, we need strange characters or animals to give reason for celebrations. Its a nice reminder at least, to not let go of our imagination and creativity. Children seem to be nice reminders of that (among many, many other beautiful things) and yet, we don't really even question or think twice about things like that. If someone is having a baby, we buy a card with a stork on it and we forget to laugh because its SO SILLY!!! Right??¿¿!!

Yesterday I was speaking with la Señora Marta. Somewhere between death, theology and Spanish pastries, we began discussing storks and babies. She was explaining to me that she has always questioned what is real and what is not. To her, its not real if she can't understand it. Death, for example, is nothing to fear. We are not capable as humans to understand death, therefore, religion cannot solve our problem and mostly, we shouldn't be afraid. We need to focus on what we know, what we feel, what we experience. We have 5 senses plus the way your body reacts to certain situations: adrenaline should probably be counted as a sense. We absolutely feel our heart beating and blood rushing. We are animals, we have instinct too.

ANYWAYS, her next example after "death" was the idea of babies coming from storks. She remembers questioning her mother. To her, there was no logic.

And then she said it.. I was totally captivated by her perspective on religion, faith, death and natural human experience and then she hit me with this one:

Spanish babies "come from storks," too. But the storks that carry Spanish babies ALL come from Paris.

WTF? No wonder 5 year old Marta was fucking confused.

And wait!!! There's more!!!

The babies are ALL carrying....... bread under their arm.

How have I lived in Spain this long, had so many cultural conversations with Spaniards of every age about traditions and customs and NEVER discovered this before?!

How exciting is life?! Hidden treasures around every corner! I hope you all get culturally tickled like I did this week!

¡BESOS GORDOS PARA TODOS!