Leonor Henríquez

leer en español        In the agricultural sense, it is the gathering of vegetables, fruits, and greens.Biblically, it is understood as feeding the Spirit of God to reap indulgences.Dionysiacally, my favorite is the vineyard, that moment when the grapes are at their peak, producing the most decadent wines and liqueurs.In short, it's about reaping what you've sown, and if you're lucky, being rewarded.It seems simple, but as they say, sometimes you sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.The topic comes up because on October 13th, we celebrate Thanksgiving here in Canada, and its origin is precisely to give thanks for a good harvest, in the broadest sense of the word.I celebrated it with immense gratitude, as a family with my children and grandchildren (two on the way), who are brave enough to d...

leer en españolI heard a familiar accent.I approached to check it out and something unusual happened.I went down the main road of Las Palmas, took the streets of my childhood and the avenues of my distant youth.In that transit I saw school friends, piñatas, late nights studying for some exam, songs, laughter.Friendship. Family.The trail that took me back was entrancing, honest, tight. Eternal seconds, those made with the material of memories.I returned to the present. There I was, in the children’s section of Corte Inglés in Plaza Catalonia, buying a baby outfit for my new grandson.Among baby items, an unexpected hug happened.A fortuitous encounter with the younger sister of a childhood friend that resulted in a brief, but comforting traverse through time.We updated our lives and bid farew...

leer en españolThey're a temptation.Whether they're fedoras, Panama hats, short-brimmed hats, wide-brimmed hats, handmade hats, or famous brands like Borsalino, Stetson, or Brixton.I have a collection, because I can't resist, and every time I go on a trip, I buy a new one.Yes, hats and their magic.I'm writing these lines from Barcelona, ​​Spain, where I'm visiting family.Aside from its Romanesque, Gothic, and Modernist architectural wonders, I have three must-see stops in this beautiful city: La Casa del Libro (Book House), Vestopazzos, a jewelry store where they make wonders with scrap metal, and Mil, the oldest hat shop in Barcelona.I swore to myself I would visit, but I wouldn't buy a single hat.Opened in 1856, this hat shop has been serving locals and celebrities for more than four gen...

leer en español        The winds announce changes.I sat on my favorite little bench, the one I call "the psychiatrist," feeling the cool breeze on my face and the sound of the leaves dancing on the tree branches.Without realizing it, I began to hum that Venezuelan song, "Rocking the palm trees..." (watch video)In this case, it would be, "Rocking the pine trees.."Suddenly, a man with a beard and a hat sat down next to me. He looked familiar, so I greeted him, although I couldn't remember his name, and continued humming my song.The gentleman didn't even flinch and took a canvas, brushes, and colors out of a rather worn briefcase.In an instant, he drew the landscape before us and started colorful brushstrokes.The artist began with the lavender tones of the sky, which gradually turned into pin...

leer en españolThey intrigue and fascinate me at the same time.That distance, that solitude, that mist.They spend their lives gazing at the immensity of the sea, feeling the waves crash against their cliffs, guiding them.Yes, they are lighthouses, those slender circular structures that rise in the vastness of the unknown to illuminate those who navigate through difficulties, gloom, and storms.It seems like an allegory of the word hope, that which sometimes weakens in the fog but, if one waits a little, ignites again and again.Just looking at them inspires stability, peace, and strength in me.I had the opportunity to visit one with my husband. We saw it in all its serenity and grandeur from the ferry that leads from Skye to Isle of Mull, on the west coast of Scotland. I remember the feeling...

leer en español         This week I couldn't decide whether to write about synchronicities, about the curious title of a chapter in a book by Colin Wilson(1931-2013), English existentialist, or attempt a dissertation on rice. They all seemed like topics with potential, so I decided to put them on the stove to see if I could bring out some flavor, while cooking a paella. Regarding rice, I wondered about the curious tradition of throwing rice at newlyweds. Apparently, it's a ritual of Asian origin, where rice was a powerful symbol of life, which spread to Western weddings to promote fertility, prosperity, and abundance. I have another theory that I'll save for last. Regarding synchronicities, or "meaningful coincidences," I learned that there are "powers" outside of us that orch...