Caballero

Caballero
By: Gina Roman


December 5, 2010

I meant to publish this before but I was somewhat hesitant about it because I wanted to keep this to myself. I am so selfish when it comes to creating something. Especially because it has a special meaning so I wanted it FOR MY EYES ONLY but what the heck!
It’s Friday night November 19, after such a long, intense and overwhelming day, I am sitting in the living room (of a relative’s house, one of my aunts through my mom’s side) putting all the pieces together for my next article after that intense and risky interview I did earlier this morning. Reflecting on it has probably been the most challenging and risky interview I’ve ever done because there are too many people and things at stake, even I so it is better to let sleeping dogs for the time being. The only thought of this morning and the knot I felt on my throat doubting whether or not I’d be able to pull through this one made me feel this profound anxiety in my stomach and I felt very nauseated again so I much rather incline towards the most pleasant part of my day.
After all this tossing and turning and a sleepless night, I started my day at 4:30 am to be at the airport at 6 to head to Mexico City for a few reasons that I mentioned before. Taking a siesta on the plane was out of the question since my mind was restless as usual thinking of how I Never in life did I have the slightest clue of what I’d be doing in Mexico but here I am.

I was very happy to arrive to the airport on time to meet a friend of mine that I am very fond of ("G", I may have already mentioned him). "G" is one of the most special male friends I’ve ever met because ever since we met he has been very transparent and natural, “he is simply himself.” He doesn’t have to hide behind a mask and pretend he is someone else and that is what really drew me to make him a part of my life time friends.


I don’t meant to brag about the men I’ve met but let’s say that cipher has been more than enough to get my share of losers, stoners, lazy asses, jerk offs, abusers, conformists, jackasses, cheaters, liars, selfish, vain, flakes, arrogant dudes who always try to impress me and every single woman with their arrogance or they try to hold me back. With this said, I am not implying that I am a high maintenance woman or the hottest chick in town. NOT at all, I can be that sure! but what REALLY impresses me is a man who is very down to earth, someone who’s got his feet well grounded, someone who has dreams and goals and actually achieves them, someone who is not full of himself, someone who has gone through down times to get to the top, someone who understands and accepts the fact that I am multicultural, someone who is able to see outside his narrow little world and likes and enjoys helping those in need, someone who likes to workout (within reason) someone who is hard working and more than anything an honest and transparent man, a TRUE “caballero” (gentleman);
Yeah! That’s the most proper adjective to describe the man who really impresses me. Now, let’s say that I was not used to that because in the U. S. men are not as traditional as in Mexico - at least before because nowadays most men are such savage beasts everywhere you go.
So to make the long and boring story short, “G” is a REAL “caballero,” (a gentleman). This adjective is the most proper word to describe him; actually he describes this adjective. I can count the few priceless moments I’ve seen him but each time I see him he is always “G.” He is very polite and he knows how to treat a woman, he opens the door of the car, he pulls the chair for me to sit down when we’ve gone out for lunch and when he compliments me he finds the most proper and sweet words; to him I always look good even if I had a piece of gum stuck on my hair, he’d still think I’m “guapa,” like he’s told me many times.
When we met I was going through the worst crisis in my life and when the simple fact of getting out of bed in the morning was such an ordeal. I’ve always taken care of my “persona” especially since I am a health and fitness advisor but at that moment sadness was eating me up and every single part of my body and pore of my face reflected it, I lost so much weight that I soon started looking puny and skeletal but he still thought I looked good.
I am only putting my mind to work as usual and perhaps other people may not be able to see what I see in him. Most of the time I am way more analytical and observative than a lot of humans but this intense day really left me thinking even more and I wonder if people reflect as much as I do or if they do at all. “Perhaps, as for Gina Yoryet, she must get that from being a writer and all the investigation and research involved, plus she gets that from the chismosa (gossip) within.” LOL!
BUT right now at this precise moment, I think and the more I reflect, the more amazed I get and I realize how much knowledge I lack of my surroundings, of my culture, my community, my world, my universe, of myself and the more I think about how much I don’t know I feel more ignorant and dummy. That is one of the reasons why I love to manifest myself through writing and as I manifest my thoughts on paper, I watch as my fingers grip, staring at the pen moving upon the paper…………I am amazed as I observe the way ink creates a word, the way that word creates a meaning and the way the meaning creates a purpose and the way the purpose creates an action and how the action creates a destiny and how EACH human being creates their own destiny. As for me, that destiny is writing. Life without writing would be pointless as it has become part of me; it complements the person I am now because it helps me learn everything into more depth.
As for “G” I strongly believe that we meet people for a reason so he came to my life to stay forever, not as a partner but as a lifetime close friend. It doesn’t matter whether or not we see each other once a year or once every five years, he’ll always be that “caballero” friend who will appreciate me as the woman I am and he’ll make me feel “guapa” again.