Republic of Letters

Spanish memorieS: anchovies and coca cola

I used to listen to this MY FAIR LADY in Spanish. I taught Pygmalion for years in my Spanish AP class (in Spanish) The kids loved shaw and Mi Bella Dama. I played it in both languages
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 this at her Grandparent’s house in July 1973 and drink Coca Cola and eat anchovies. Don Benigno was a very cultivated man . He 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. What is the greatest distance between two points?

Time of course.

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”