Wednesday, May 17, 2006


It was 1917 in Manila. About a month before my mother Nena had her birthday (she was going to be 6), her father, Don Tirso de Irureta Goyena took her to a toy store. They looked around and my mother eyed a beautiful doll house but said nothing. A few days before her birthday my grandfather died. He was 35. The day of Nena's birthday a messenger arrived with a big package for Nena. Nena opened it to find the beautiful doll house. In it was a card that said ,"To my daughter on her birthday from your loving father. Tirso. " My mother got up and shouted in with pleasure, "Papi is not dead. He just sent me a present."

As a little boy I had a toy sailing boat that was about 4ft long. My father gave it to me and I have fond memories of floating it around in ponds in Buenos Aires parks. I have no memory as to when it disappeared from my life. This week I took Rebecca to a development on Beach Avenue that has a pond. I borrowed a boat from architect Dale Rickard. Rebecca fell in love with the boat and said, "Suppose he gives me the boat?" I said that it wasn't going to happen as it is an antique. But there is no doubt in my mind what I have to get for Rebecca on her birthday in August.