The Grasshopper
by
Ethel Bustamante
Days spent with my grandmother were filled with magic. You might ask me, “How could that be?” And, I would say, “Because time became invisible when I was with her”. Indeed it was, and it is until now. Let me explain! Over the years, after my grandmother passed away, I came to realize that our love manifests as impressions in my space. It has nothing to do with time. In fact, my sensibility is so strong that sometimes I can feel her next to me. You do not believe me? Well, let me tell you two stories that transcend time to prove my point. One took place when I was six years old, and the latter one happened 4 years ago in Pisa, Italy.
My grandmother had asked me to read her the postcard that was on the table, “Dear Lola,” “I want to thank you for your kind attention…” “Kind attention?” “What does she mean, grandma?” I asked while watching her doing something strange by the window. “It means to be polite” she replied. I thought of it for a few seconds, put the postcard back on the table, and stood on the chair to see what my grandmother was doing. I was so puzzled that I had to ask her, “Why are you bringing lettuce leaves to the window?” “I have a new friend!” she replied smiling. I opened my eyes really wide with curiosity. “A new friend?” “What do you mean grandma?” I said to her while jumping off from the chair, and running toward her. “Where is your friend? I don’t see anyone!” “I see only pieces of lettuce all over the window”, I said to her with a disappointing tone and not able to take a breath in between words. “My love, take a deep breath”, she had this kind smile on her face when she spoke to me. “My friend is a grasshopper that comes every day to my window around this time of the day”. I was astonished, but also filled with doubt. “A grasshopper comes to your window everyday grandma?” “And she eats your lettuce?” “I do not believe you grandma,” I said to her really agitated. “Why not, my love?” She asked. “Because…” “WOW” My eyes couldn't believe it! The grasshopper had flown right into her lettuce leaves. I smiled at my grandmother and pointed at the grasshopper. We moved away from the window letting the grasshopper enjoy my grandmother’s lettuce. Then grandma says to me, “We can touch the heart of any living creature with love”.
We have just moved from Switzerland to Pisa. I was about to organize the bedroom when something in the window caught my attention. I got closer, and noticed there was a grasshopper caught between the screen and the window. I had no idea how the grasshopper found himself in such a strange situation. So I decided to talk to the grasshopper. “Please don’t be scared of me.” “I am going to help you to get out but you need to collaborate.” The grasshopper just looked at me. If there were any neighbors watching me, they would have definitely thought I lost my mind. So, slowly I started to move the screen upwards making sure the grasshopper would not get hurt. As I lifted it almost halfway through, the grasshopper was able to escape, and fly away. I was about to close the window, when I see the grasshopper flying back to the window. It stands on the screen, and bows three times to me as if saying thank you. I was in awe! I felt goosebumps all over my body from excitement. I said, “You're welcome,” and bowed back to the grasshopper. The grasshopper flew away, and I was left with this amazing feeling of magic and wonder. All of the sudden, I felt that grandma was with me by the window. I smiled. I remembered what she said, “How love can transform us.” Unbound by time, we met once again.
My grandmother had asked me to read her the postcard that was on the table, “Dear Lola,” “I want to thank you for your kind attention…” “Kind attention?” “What does she mean, grandma?” I asked while watching her doing something strange by the window. “It means to be polite” she replied. I thought of it for a few seconds, put the postcard back on the table, and stood on the chair to see what my grandmother was doing. I was so puzzled that I had to ask her, “Why are you bringing lettuce leaves to the window?” “I have a new friend!” she replied smiling. I opened my eyes really wide with curiosity. “A new friend?” “What do you mean grandma?” I said to her while jumping off from the chair, and running toward her. “Where is your friend? I don’t see anyone!” “I see only pieces of lettuce all over the window”, I said to her with a disappointing tone and not able to take a breath in between words. “My love, take a deep breath”, she had this kind smile on her face when she spoke to me. “My friend is a grasshopper that comes every day to my window around this time of the day”. I was astonished, but also filled with doubt. “A grasshopper comes to your window everyday grandma?” “And she eats your lettuce?” “I do not believe you grandma,” I said to her really agitated. “Why not, my love?” She asked. “Because…” “WOW” My eyes couldn't believe it! The grasshopper had flown right into her lettuce leaves. I smiled at my grandmother and pointed at the grasshopper. We moved away from the window letting the grasshopper enjoy my grandmother’s lettuce. Then grandma says to me, “We can touch the heart of any living creature with love”.
We have just moved from Switzerland to Pisa. I was about to organize the bedroom when something in the window caught my attention. I got closer, and noticed there was a grasshopper caught between the screen and the window. I had no idea how the grasshopper found himself in such a strange situation. So I decided to talk to the grasshopper. “Please don’t be scared of me.” “I am going to help you to get out but you need to collaborate.” The grasshopper just looked at me. If there were any neighbors watching me, they would have definitely thought I lost my mind. So, slowly I started to move the screen upwards making sure the grasshopper would not get hurt. As I lifted it almost halfway through, the grasshopper was able to escape, and fly away. I was about to close the window, when I see the grasshopper flying back to the window. It stands on the screen, and bows three times to me as if saying thank you. I was in awe! I felt goosebumps all over my body from excitement. I said, “You're welcome,” and bowed back to the grasshopper. The grasshopper flew away, and I was left with this amazing feeling of magic and wonder. All of the sudden, I felt that grandma was with me by the window. I smiled. I remembered what she said, “How love can transform us.” Unbound by time, we met once again.