Familiy in da house

Portugal, January 2024

It could not have been a better family reunion than this one. Celebrating both New Year‘s Eve together, aswell as our mother‘s 80th birthday a couple of days later. And, finally, receiving the keys to my very first house ever, as property owner. My co-owner and brother-from-another-mother Joseph was absent, because he went to see his mom and dad in the US, of course.

We spent day and night together, without getting on our nervs. What an amazing progress this is, in comparism to our last reunion full of drama, two years ago in Rio de Janeiro. This time its all about cooking, eating, cleaning, reading, chilling, crying, discussing, talking, sleeping, hugging, sun bathing, listening… but most of all - laughing! And lots and lots of love.

Unbearable, overloading love expressed in various discussion rounds to clear out issues, pending since decades. Deborah made a fire ceremony on our last evening in the garden of our rented house in the country side. She loves it so much and we all respect that. Although its not really my cup of tea. But on the other hand, her and me followed a morning ritual that consisted in swimming in the ice cold pool in the garden, while Guggi and Mama watched us from the kitchen window with a hot tea cup in between their hands, the two frostbites.

I am not surprised my family fell in love with Portugal aswell and likes my house. During our stay, I keep following up with Joseph and Marcio, our builder, with the last pending things to be done in the house. Before entering and being able to sleep on matresses on the floor, we need the wood burner and boiler - for water and floor heating - to be installed. Kitchen and bathroom utilities, and further reduced furniture will come next, probably around february.

My mom really enjoys our daily walks on the beach, every day a different one. We all do of course, but I am especially glad for her. Because she lives in Berlin, far away from the sea, in contrary to us daughters in Rio de Janeiro or Formentera and Portugal. Apart from the savage wilderness of the ocean, its the entire untouched nature that gets her, she, who claimed herself a downtown city woman all her life. Although she brought us up in Ecuador‘s beaches and jungles in the 70ties, rustic country life with no electricity nor running water system in Formentera in the 80ties. Depended on candles, chimney fire and water buckets pulled up from the well.

Variety of circumstances at its best. From wealthy to poor, civilisation to nature and back, endless amount of different schools and homes, different step fathers and languages…. this is what came out. Three adult independent sisters, getting their shit together and living exactly the life they want. Thanks to a strong mom, who did the best she could as an independent woman without any help of the three different fathers. Including neglection and loading far too many responsibilities on our little children shoulders. But this is what we got.

The sweet and sour candy of life!