1989

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From the FLASHBACK section: 1989.

1989 was the year I packed two big suitcases in Chicago and came to Madrid - without a job and not knowing anybody here.

I had first come to Madrid in 1983. Shortly after returning to the United States, I knew that someday I’d be back - and possibly for good.

Returning in 1989 wasn’t easy at first. In fact, after about 6 weeks I was ready to return to the U.S. But Amy, my friend and room mate, talked me into staying a little longer. Her persuasion must have worked; I’m still here some 20 years later. (Well, I did take a 7 year hiatus while working in Ljubljana and Chicago).

Images from 1989 come rushing back into my mind:

- learning “street” Spanish and playing Tetris at bars in the “bajos de Aurrerá” in Moncloa;

- listening to Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears at the Vallehermoso swimming pool;

- reading about the devastation caused by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, and

- watching images on TV of people tearing down the Berlin Wall.

Walking down the Gran Vía was like watching one big advertisement for some of the most popular movies that year: Batman, Driving Miss Daisy, Steel Magnolias and When Harry Met Sally.

And if you’re a fan of fiction, most likely you were reading something by Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club), Mary Higgins Clark (While My Pretty One Sleeps), John le Carré (The Russia House) or Tom Clancy (The Cardinal of the Kremlin).

Me? In an effort to improve my Spanish, I was reading Rosa Montero’s recent release Amado Amo.

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Vocabulary:

For good. Para siempre

To talk somebody into (something). Convencer a alguien para que haga algo

To sow. Sembrar

Oil spill. Vertido de petróleo

To tear down (irregular: tear / tore / torn). Derribar

Published by: Drew Crosby