Spanish Drama: "Madre de la Soledad Bendita"

Since I was a little girl, my mom has always used a particular phrase to describe my natural (and perfectly justifiable) emotional reactions: "you always take it to Hollywood."  Sometimes she likes to throw in a little mention of an Oscar-worthy performance, just for emphasis.  I think she might be implying that I have a knack for being dramatic (me?  no....).  My mom, along with nearly every one I know, loves to point out that I'm dramatic - something I really don't understand because I'm a Gemini and Geminis are NEVER dramatic (my sarcasm should be seething through the screen right now).  But, after my car ride home earlier this week, I saw the true drama professionals in action in a fantastic (and perhaps a bit stereotypical) Spanish Drama.

ACT I: Exposition 
The play begins on Monday evening when I was in Carrefour (think the Spanish version of Walmart) picking up a few things.  While shopping I heard a high pitched "señooooo!!!!" (teacher, more specifically a female teacher, derived from the word "señorita") to which I instinctively responded to and saw one of my kids standing a few feet away.  He and his twin brother gave me besitos and we chatted briefly before going our separate ways.

ACT II: Rising Action and Climax
The next day during the ride home from school I casually mentioned that I'd seen los gemelos from 3rd grade the previous night.  My bilingual coordinator responded with intrigue, "yes?? did they say anything to you?"  I relayed the brief interaction to him, which garnered a rather extraordinary response for such an ordinary story.  "Really?  They spoke to you??  And gave you KISSES?!?!  UY UY UY UYYYYY!!!"  He turned to the kindergarten teacher and told her that los gemelos spoke to me in Carrefour and the following unfolded for a solid minute: (heads shaking, arms flailing) "UY UY UY UYYYY NO LO PUEDO CREER!!!!  MADRE MIAAAAAA!  NO ME DIGAS, NO ME DIGAS!  AY DIOS, AY MADRE DE LA SOLEDAD BENDITAAAA UY UY UYYYY!"  (Translation, which I love: "Oh oh oh oh, I can't believe it!  Mother of mine!  Don't tell me this!  Don't tell me this!  Oh God, Oh Mother of the Holy Solitude")

ACT III: Flashback
As it turns out, los gemelos had seen the kindergarten teacher in Carrefour a few months ago and neglected to say anything to her.  The next day at school she asked them if they saw her, to which they responded yes.  When asked why they didn't say hi, they responded with giggles.  I suppose that she and my bilingual coordinator had chalked it up to shyness, as they are very shy in class.  But my story dismantled that theory, causing her to feel offended...deeply offended, apparently.

ACT IV: Falling Action and Resolution
After the dramatics settled and they'd explained the situation to me, I was still a little intrigued.  There was a new phrase in the onslaught of religious and cultural sayings that I wasn't familiar with.  So on that day, "Madre de la Soledad Bendita" became my new favorite phrase.  I'm not sure it can get much more dramatic (or Catholic) than this.  Upon learning my new favorite phrase the teachers in my car suddenly became my acting coaches: "now practice saying it with feeling, like us!  'Maaaadree dela Soledaaad Bendiiiitaaaaa.'  You have to say it from your soul."  They all awaited anxiously for my performance, but in the presence of such greatness, I must confess that I had a little stage fright.  I told them that I would surely unleash my new favorite phrase when I felt the burning passion in my soul to do so.  A response that they seemed pleased with.

El Fin.

The reviews are in and this is quite possibly the most impeccable performance in a Drama (Spanish or otherwise) that I've ever seen.  As the curtain fell, I felt that I was indeed the amateur watching a true Oscar-worthy performance unfold.

Note to all who read my blog: you are NEVER allowed to call ME dramatic again.