Republic of Letters

Spanish memories: anchovies, music, laughter and Coca Cola

by Richard K Munro rmunro3@bak.rr.com

I taught AP Spanish for years and Spanish for Native Speakers. One of the works I taught was PYGMALION (in Spanish) plus many other plays from the Quintero brothers and others. I always taught 2-3 plays per semester and fragments of novels as well as short stories newspaper articles and essays. Usigli was popular but no question the most popular plays were from Shaw and the Quintero brothers. I knew about Spanish versions of the Quiet Man, the Sound of Music and of course MY FAIR LADY from my years of living and studying in Spain. I studied four summers in Spain and lived in Madrid for two years. Ironically if I had not married I probably would have stayed in Madrid much longer. A bonnie place wi’ a sporran fu’ of Yankee siller. Madrid es buena cuando la bolas suena. Like the character in A Song of Sixpence by A. J. Cronin about the coming to manhood of Laurence Carroll and his life in Scotland and Spain. I had a brief moment in paradise in Spain (studying in Valladolid, Soria, Salamanca and Madrid). It was in the Cronin book I learned about the Scots College (formerly in Vallodolid now in Salamanca). Most of the teachers and priests of my father’s parish in Scotland 1915-1927 were educated there including FATHER COLLINS. Not a great book but very entertaining with some lyrical descriptions.

Ruth Munro, Richard K Munro and Mrs. Munro on St. Columba’s Day June 9, 1982 the happiest day of my life Soria , Spain. Auld Pop was not there and Don Benigno was not there. I like to think they met in heaven on that day for a dram or too.

Spanish memories: my wife and used to listen to light classics and zarzuelas at her Grandparent’s house in Soria, Spain (c. July 1973) and drink Coca-Cola and eat anchovies. Don Benigno was a very cultivated man.

Don Benigo a retired country doctor was the only Spaniard I ever met who knew immediately Munro was a Scottish Highland name (and not Italian). I said how did he know that? He got up and got a book from his shelf and started to read to me THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (in Spanish) Three of the main characters were Scottish Munros. He said, in a joke, that all his life he was waiting to meet an authentic Scottish Munro. We all laughed.

Later my wife gifted me the book which I still have. I now think that Don Benigno hoped I would marry his granddaughter. Many happy memories of visiting his house, listening to classical music, and playing chess. The tapas were always great! He never served me alcohol though I was only 17.

In memory, I can taste the rich old cane sugar Coca-Cola (I haven’t tasted the like in many years) and the salty anchovies.

In memory, I hear the ghost of a tune CONCIERTO ARANJEZ.

What is the greatest distance between two points?

Time of course. But it is wonderful to have had over 50 years of continuous memories and friendship.

Nothing like it.

another old favorite I used to sing with my mother. She said it was true in my case as I only found love outside the Anglosphere. Why? Perhaps because the Spanish lassies were a little more traditional. They helped me survive the 20th century which was not easy for me despite my massive “privilege”