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 There is a 90-year-old a pig in my kitchen – and I feel great affection for this being. It’s been of service for so long, the wood is solid yet soft. Bringing it to America in my suitcase when my mother died six years ago, felt like a lucky strike, connecting me to family and the old country. Dating back to my father’s parents, the pig's simplicity is to my eyes so beautiful, even elegant. My heart is soothed by its presence, resting prominently near the sink with the flowers above on the window sill. 

Growing up, in the evenings our family was eating together for Abendbrot, my father though often missing, working late. We each had a wooden board; the meals were light. For lunch, the Mittagsessen was a warm meal. Such were German customs in the old days, probably not anymore for most people. Now it is mein Brotzeitbrett – for eating bread and butter, cheese, radishes, cucumber, cold cuts, olives, tomatoes… For me, eating alone which i do almost every day, is an art form… 

 

The pig is steady, reliable, speaks to me in clear voice that I must eat regularly. Mein Schwein. Pig brings happiness. In German there is an expression that my father often used: “Da hab ich aber Schwein gehabt.” It is used for situations where one had good luck when things could have gone easily wrong, so I guess a pig appeared and saved the situation :) 

 

In bad times, in war times, having a pig meant being able to survive, being able to eat Brot und Schinken, bread and prosciutto. I am glad I got my pig – its old spirit feeds me, speaking to my heart. Can you see?

Comments

  1. ayshaMay 7, 2022 at 10:08 PM

    I can see... it does look like an old pig. I wish I had a pig to remind me to eat well...!

    Instead, I have an elephant, who teaches me different things. She is about one foot in all dimensions, made of soft black fabric wrapped around a solid frame, adorned with every color of thread embroidering her face and back as well as small mirrors and great bells hanging under her belly. Naturally, she is an Indian elephant. She's been with me almost all of my life, to the extent that I forget the story of how she came to be with me, sitting on the top shelf of my desk. Now that I work on farms, I sometimes realize that I have spent days wearing incredibly "functional" clothing in various shades of brown and grey. How can this be, when I come from people who so passionately adorn everything - including their own bodies - with so many different colors, smells, sounds? In the US, adornment is made to be so frivolous; I see this reflected in my own life. Rather than treating life like a chore to be finished up with as soon as possible, perhaps the elephant can remind me of those old ways of celebrating life, of commemorating this celebration with color, smell, sound...

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  2. KarinaMay 8, 2022 at 2:04 PM

    Well, I am glad you have that Elephant. Reminding you to celebrate each day, each task, each glorious movement of our bodies, yes. Dressing in colors is obviously not frivolous, it lifts the spirit. That pink shirt in class made you glow just a bit more. Those turquoise pants with yellow blouse might make work just a bit more pleasurable, bringing a smile to everyone :)

    When I started teaching as a volunteer in a federal women's prison back in the 90's, i did not know after a month whether the colorful and flamboyant way of dressing that is my natural daily habit would sit well with the women. I asked them, should i tone myself down? Oh no, you must come as yourselves, they exclaimed, we need that. I was surprised, and so I would swing every Wednesday morning through the "campus" in my various beloved skirts, pants, dresses, hats, long hanging earrings, and women from all corners would holler out their approval, while i waved, and entered the barn to start my session of Creative Expression. Together we defied the prison rules, the guards, the drabness of life in prison. I accepted my small part of bringing delight and a whiff of freedom each week.

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  3. nicole gervacioMay 31, 2022 at 1:20 AM

    ahhhh I love this story! The pig - in a way - is an elder :). I am grateful I get to experience the customs and culture of your family & ancestors in sharing meals with you. It's always a pleasure and DELICIOUS. I laugh at how often we are just making "mmmm" sounds.

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