silvia planas: There is always time for everything... Love specially!

Not everything I do during the weekends is go to the beach and party. Yes it is something no one can live without, but in life there has to be a balance.

I personally find my balance and my center when I do things with the people I love the most.

For example, last Saturday before I did hit the beach with the gang, I shared some time with my brother Javi, whom I admire the most! and asked him to take me visit my aunt.

My aunt has Alzheimer, and I hadn't seen her since the malady stroke. I was really afraid she wouldn't recognize me, and didn't know what my reaction would be if it came to that. I had been speaking to my niece about my upcoming visit to aunt Odette, and she told me to prepare myself for the worst.

I have to confess that it has taken me a while to work out the courage to go see her, but it already was an overdue visit! So, last week I asked my brother when he could take me, and Saturday worked fine for him. We were going shopping afterward, cause I needed a few supplies for the house.

He picked me up around 10 am Saturday morning, and from there we took the long road to Arenys de Mar. My brother wanted to show me a little bit of my surroundings... I had been away for so long that everything displayed before me seemed all brand new to me. I didn't even remember the basic geography of the towns surrounding Barcelona... I knew Arenys de Mar was part of Costa Brava, the coast northbound of Barcelona, up to the Pyrenees and the French border. I also knew I spent many summer days in its beach, what I never thought was that some day I would be going there to visit my aunt in an asylum for the elderly.

I entered the place with apprehension. I guess I wasn't that prepared for it, after all! I was a few steps behind my brother, following him through doors and corridors, until we came to the end of an aisle with only two choices, the door to the left was a regular bedroom with two beds neatly done. To the right another door that lead into a common room full of elderly watching TV. I asked my brother -Where is the aunt?- He pointed at a chair with a half mooned table attached to it, like the ones we use to give food to infants.

I looked at him filled with confusion, I couldn't recognize the person siting on that chair... That wasn't my aunt! Not the one I knew anyway! But he confirmed my worst thoughts, it was her indeed. I burst into tears, I couldn't control it! I turned and looked the other way, almost went into the bedroom across! I couldn't stop, just couldn't. I was sobbing, shaking all over. But I knew I had to control myself, if she, by any chance remembered me, I didn't want her to see me like that! Cause she would know then how bad she looked, and that... well, I could never forgive myself if I caused her any more grieve than been in that place alone could cause.

My brother put his long arms around my shoulder and told me to be strong. I told him I needed a few seconds to compose myself... and I did. We went in.

Her eyes were looking down at the floor, kinda lost in space. I said to myself over and over again, you have to be strong, don't you cry now, smile at her, maybe she'll recognize you... To tell you the truth, I was counting on the strong bond that we once shared to work the magic... And it did!

I started to speak to her in French, the language we always used around the house. We are French you know. She is my mother's sister, and that side of the family... All French! So am I, well, half of me that is. Anyway, I softly said it was me, Silvia... and then she looked up and started to giggle, putting her arms up to hug me, mumbling my name while she did! I had to exert myself finding in me the necessary willpower not to cry again. Once the weakness was over, I found myself showering her with kisses and the dearest words of love.

My brother took pictures of us together, and then I started to focus on the things that were wrong with her been in that place. A home isn't the proper place for someone with Alzheimer! She belongs in a place where they could treat her condition and make her better! I went and talked to her nurse, who pointed me to the nun in charge. I found out I am not allowed to take my aunt for a walk, or anything! Our greedy sister has become my aunt's tutor, so she could get her hands on her money and properties, put her in that place and totally forgot about her!

I am so suing her for that! And I plan on winning the goddamn thing!!!! I am so enraged for what that sunovabitch of sister we have has done to my beautiful and sweet aunt Odette!

When I win the fucking lawsuit I am taking her outta that place and I will take her to live with me! I know I will have to hire professional help for her, it doesn't matter! Love doesn't forget... Alzheimer might... but love must always prevail! And I love her to death! What kind of persons would we be if we left loved ones to rot in oblivion???? The kind that sister of mine is! For sure! Well, I don't have a sister anymore! And boy, am I glad for it!

Anyway, sorry for all that, but I had to get it outta my chest. Afterward, Javi and I strolled around the tents placed on the street outside the asylum. It was Saturday and the local producers go there to sell their goods... It was a cheering atmosphere, most needed after the emotional reunion with my aunt. My brother treated me with a bag full of cherries, my favorite summer fruit! and several other produce I love. We then drove our way back to Sabadell, we still had to do some shopping at Baricentro, and I had the gang waiting for me at the beach.