To remember is to long for the past - Creative Nonfiction in The Ink Well: Prompt #6.

In the east of Venezuela is a beautiful coastal city: Mariguitar, which is adorned by an immense blue sea similar to the sky. With a sun that radiates flashes of light like the yellow of gold transmitting an immense heat, which allows us easterners to vitalize and gild our skin.

In this land, despite the adversities that have affected its inhabitants and the natural phenomena that have deteriorated the environment, traditional activities have been carried out. Their customs and eating habits are reflected in them.

Currently Mariguitar has a river channeled by a bridge. 9 streets that harmonize with its picturesque houses. It has primary, secondary and higher education. It has a church built in colonial style. It has 2 seats. In front of this chapel there is one with a statue of Simon Bolivar decorated with ornamental plants and shrubs. There is another plaza located two streets away.

Next to the Plaza Bolivar is a police station, diagonal to it the government facilities. Very close to the temple is the campo santo. In front of it is the bar El Rosario and a recreational park.

Its inhabitants are very helpful and friendly. The commercial activity is carried out in the Pesquera to pack the fish and seafood in cans. Another complement to this activity that has been added is the production of mayonnaise, which is then packaged in jars. And the cultivation of coconut, raw material for the production of mayonnaise. And oil.This factory now has other owners.

remember in spite of my young age, back in 1959, that this town was very incipient, it barely had three streets, but it was always characterized by its natural and material beauties. Few inhabitants were distinguished by their idiosyncrasy. The commercial activity was in the factory to pack only fish and seafood.

At that time for the first time my mother, Leonides, took me and my four siblings to the celebration of the anniversary of the Patron Saint of that town, the Virgin of the Rosary. On that day a mass was celebrated and then she was taken to the sea in the Executive Boat of the Fish Market, decorated with artificial flowers, some parishioners accompanied her with natural flowers and lighted candles in their hands.

I remember that a candle set fire to one of the scaffolds and began to burn, all the crew, terrified by the panic, began to ask for help, some put on life jackets and jumped into the sea, with the luck that a man who was a fireman acted quickly and put out the fire, returning everything to normal, from that moment the priest forbade carrying lighted candles. Then the maritime caravan continued followed by other boats with us and other devotees.

When we returned from that sea voyage we reached the mainland. We ate stewed tuna empanadas that we bought in the street from a lady called La Catira Mayo, a friend of my mother. Soon after, Leonides and my brothers and sisters participated in the sack race competition and the hot potato race, which consisted of holding a spoon with your mouth and a potato on top of it. Then the competition began, the one who made it to the finish line won a prize in each race.

My older brother won a baseball in the sack game. There were also Creole ball games, orange blossom games. In the street of Bolivar square there were some musical groups, many people danced, my family did too, there were sales of soft drinks, natural juices, liquors, empanadas, beers. That was a very happy day.

When we returned in the evening to Aunt Cristina's house, where we were staying, a delicious fish soup was waiting for us. Also a salad with tomato, onion and avocado, as well as fried fish and yucca.

At present this town has changed its material and physical structure over the years. In spite of all the adversities that it suffered with the Pandemic, the problem of gasoline and the flooding of the rivers that have deteriorated the communication routes. Even so, these traditions are maintained in time and historical space, because this town has not lost its essence.

By narrating and describing those moments, I went back to the past, I felt very happy for those experiences that I lived and still remember.