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Living the preterite….
Come
into my office…. take a seat, mind the sand.
I alluded recently on these pages to living as the letter
“S”…. should that be “S” for surf bum, scary or seriously
off his head?
Well dear readership, I was munching on some grammar the
other day, and as usual finding it difficult to swallow. But
it was a piece of past tense which became so stuck in my
gullet that breathing problems appeared on my minds eye
horizon, with an expression of perplexity on the countenance
of my tutor…that was before she started waving her arms
about…Eeennneeeesss as she calls me…bless her.
Not good amigos, not good at all.
Thus the problem must be tackled head on…. just how can I
get my mind around this adopted idiom in such a way that
communication attempts are rewarded with more than the
postman’s titter…or a rolling of Spanish eyes from vecinos
whom remain just out of conversation’s reach?
There can only be one way, we are going to attempt living in
the past.
Imagine, you are walking along the beach in Cotillo, away to
your left, peripheral vision makes you aware of the Scottish
guy with his 600mm of fun…..(what is he photographing today,
something in Gran Canaria?) But more disconcertingly, the
figure some paces ahead seems vaguely, then very familiar,
all the bumps and bits, and oooohhh and how I wish they
would tuck that label in…but wait a minute…it’s a little too
recognisable….is it, it can’t be? It is …..you in the
preterite….where you were a little earlier…..now that is
scary stuff.
Everything around you that is happening, has already
happened, but just how long ago? And is it still ongoing,
imperfect???
Commensurate with this time zone, we all must adopt
conversation in the past, so with luck and a few correct
tenses, we will get my professora of her anti-depressants.
Deal?
Are you ready, or rather were you ready, maybe that should
be, we were ready….yesterday???
But what’s that I’ve just spotted? Oh no, I think it could
be the future!
See / saw / will see ?! ……Ya………….
Go carefully out there,
Surf Bum
Donald Innes is a writer and photographer,
see more of his pictures on
http://donaldinnesross-aplaceforinnes.blogspot.com
If you are interested in buying any of his pictures just
call him on 662 529580
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