Posts
For the last two decades, I have dedicated some time on preserving every single word that has followed me since youth. I began writing them when I was about 13 years old in a notebook, and years later on a journal. A year or so ago, when I began re-writing them, -this time on my computer- I discovered that I had collected over 3,000 quotes, thoughts and anecdotes in almost twenty years. Most of them are my own, -is amazing how growing up developed in me a vicious sense of belonging for words- some are from family members, others from friends and random people I encountered here and there and anywhere. I have never dare to write quotes for that purpose, or for the purpose of preaching or teaching anything; ever since I was a teenager, I always had the urge to write, to write anything, and they just happened to have the discrete shape and style of a quote. I have learned little by little and with many inconveniencies in between, that I rather write what I think and keep it to myself than to say it out loud; (my face had paid the price in several occasions). In that line, I also learned to write my thoughts and my queries; about life, love, sex, disputes and many other things out of necessity, frustration and fear. It is said that every life is the union of moments lived, any moment, good or bad; and for some reason, during all this time, I just wrote and collected the not-so-good moments and include them in my little journal of anecdotes.
I wanted to share a few of them with whoever decides to read, and I hope you find in them something interesting enough to make you keep reading. Something is for sure: At least, some of them will make you smile, and that is good enough.
I rather live with a thousand questions, than with a single answer that attempst to answer them all...
2011
_____________________________
I rather live with a thousand questions, than with a single answer that attempst to answer them all...
2011
_____________________________
A person who keeps one secret is called a good friend. A person who keeps two secrets is called a confidant. But the person who keeps three, is called a liar.
1999, Ontario
_____________________________
I have a passport, enough money to disappear for a while, 196 countries to chose, an honest smile in my pocket, the rising sun over my forehead, a backpack full of memories, and a woman to run away from…
2010, Vienna
_____________________________
To find love in Honolulu you’ll need $500 dollars and a great sense of humor. To find love in Rome you’ll need a nice suit, a good line and a creative excuse. But to find love in New York City, you’ll need all of the above and a loaded gun.
2007, New York City
_____________________________
I lost 500 lei in Bucharest to a hand reader to learn my future and $100 dollars in New Orleans to hear about what I already knew. On my way back home, I spent 5 seconds with my mother just to hear her say: I told you so!
2001, Cordoba
_____________________________
Learn to change and master adaptation.
Learn a song or two & keep up a good tune,
So when a heart is broken and all is doomed,
You can sing out loud to the occasion…
2003, London
_____________________________
Love is a lot like chess. You can move ahead, sideways, crossways and backwards. You may even take your time to make each move count; but when the Queen steps on your King… Is game over!
2011, San Juan
_____________________________
White lies are harder to swallow, especially after an appetizer of dark truths…
_____________________________
“If you spend $300 dollars on a date, you better kiss her. If you spend $500, you better touch her, and if you spend $1000 dollars, you better bring me a grandchild.”
Last night… My mother.
_____________________________
On my first ever professional job interview, I decided to walk the short distance between my flat and the office building. On my way, I received two things from strangers: a photograph of a missing young girl and two condoms from an anti-abortion rally group. The interview went better than expected, but after forgetting the photograph and the condoms underneath the chair at the director’s office, it’s no surprise they never called.
_____________________________
“She is such a liar; don’t believe a word she says… Look at me! No hair or calluses on my hands, and still no blindness…”
1984, Emilio (my brother).
_____________________________
When most people think of stars as something distant and unreachable, I see them as the dim light that my mother leaves on every night; as the quiet and silent signal that reminds me: someone waits for me at home…
1992
_____________________________
Destiny is just the absurd invention of those who live unaware of the laws of physics and under-estimate the power of nature. It also serves as the beautified excuse for those who seek love and can’t find it, and the ones who do, but can’t explain it. Destiny is also, and has being for centuries, the magic word that has helped many unfortunate men to get under the skirt of women; that if left to the laws of physics or natural order, it wouldn’t happen, even for the sake of absurdity. Confusing! Just ask Josephine about Napoleon Bonaparte!
2004, Paris
_____________________________
When running from your demons, watch out for your shadow, she’s a tricky motherfucker!
Soto del Real Prison, Spain, 2000
(And no; I was not in jail)
_____________________________
One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure is worth watching…
2002
_____________________________
The first time I went to a Catholic church I was 7 years old. I was moved and impressed by the service and the size of the cathedral, but even more by a hungry little dog outside its doors, who everyone seemed to reject. After the communion, I took what I thought to be potato crisps from the hands of the altar boy and ran outside. The little dog was happy after eating all those “potato crisps”; for some reason, the priest was not.
1983
_____________________________
Don’t waste your time thinking about your purpose in life. Do good, play fair, live passionately, savor every single moment, enjoy the ride and, perhaps, it will come to you, or the other way around.
2006, Rouen, France
_____________________________
I am living a life that doesn’t belong to me. I shouldn’t be the one who writes about the feats of others, I should be living a life that others want to write about…
2005
_____________________________
If the universe is constantly expanding at an increasing speed; there is no use on regretting last night, it is probably way beyond our reach.
2009, Mauna Kea
_____________________________
I never stay too long at one place, it reminds me how awful companion I end up being.
2005
_____________________________
I have always been cautious with those who force a smile, with the "over-attentive" and whoever greet me with unproportional exuberance; for the only way to stab you in the back and get away with it, is by getting as close as possible while camouflaging the knife's sharp edge behind a false charm.
_____________________________
Kiss her passionately, caress her as if she were the last living thing, tell her that you love her and whisper little spicy words softly to her ears… Don’t forget these two things: Never give her your real name and, for heaven’s sake, leave her enough money for the taxi ride back to where she came from…
2010, Florence
“Max; self proclaimed gigolo”
_____________________________
My name implies that I am just “that”. My nationality proves that I am from “there”. My religion assures me that “I am fucked”; therefore, I have no name, no country and no God.
2007
_____________________________
(The mirror)
-Show me your face and I will give you my name.
(Myself)
-Give me your love and I will show you my face.
(The mirror)
-Tell me your name and I will give you my heart.
(The angry wife)
-Come back to bed, you drunk bastard!
_____________________________
The only difference between one crazy man and Salvador Dali is that Dali is not crazy at all…
S. Dali, 1970, Lligat
_____________________________
A train whistles just to bring you back from day-dreaming; so you think twice your ambitions of trading the uncertainty that awaits you at the next station for what you are about to leave behind.
2004, Genève
_________________________________
No need to seek forgiveness,
No use on locking your fingers.
Raise up, my man, your soul is still deep in the mud,
on the trenches, where your violent trade turned rain into blood.
Dry up your tears, you half man!
Flares will only enhance the color of your fears.
Lower your arms, there’s no honor on taking lives;
or heroism paid with medals, made of cheap metals,
to celebrate the circus of cannibalism and their heist.
Hear his voice, oh great man;
It whispers: <<Zugzwang>>
Be still, stand tall!
Ignore your orders, follow the call.
Sometimes the best move forward is not moving at all…
Fort Shafter, Hawaii, 2008
-While watching a chess game
between two young US Soldiers.
_____________________________
