Yaya


Isabelle's mom died on Thursday, 84 years old. Affectionately known as Yaya to Olivia and Julie, Josefa was Spanish, although she was born in France. She struggled to speak English but understood it far more than she let on.

My last conversation with her was two years ago, on a warm summer day in Rick's backyard. The girls were swimming, Rick and Isabelle were inside making dinner, and Yaya and I were enjoying our drinks.

She looked at me and said something in French. When it took too long for me to parse it out, she tried again. "Travel this year?"

I said I had no plans. More French, or maybe Spanish, and she pointed at the girls. I thought for a moment she wanted one of them to translate, but then she smiled and told me:

"At least go in the pool."


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Listening to Rick's eulogy yesterday I realized I had confused the daughter with the mom. It was Isabelle who was born in France, and she speaks English very well. Josefa was born in Granada, Spain. Her brothers and her husband fought against Franco. Josefa and Manuel moved to France after the war, and eventually brought their family to Montreal, and then Windsor.

Posted: Sat - February 2, 2008 at 01:57 PM          

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