Fuente: https://cetvenezuela.wordpress.com/
It’s a deep love, a longing, a sense of belonging.
In bullfighting, it’s the bull’s tendency to retreat to its safe haven during the fight. Also, the bull “takes on a homeland” or “becomes attached” to a place when faced with imminent death. Any resemblance to us humans is not purely coincidental.
Musically, it reminds me of that beautiful song by our Simón Díaz: “If my homeland is the mountains, and an araguaney flower, how can I not have, so much desire to return…”
The term, querencia in Spanish (translated as homeland but not quite), came up in a conversation with a friend about the reluctance of elderly parents or relatives to change residence, much less country.
I understand it, because, with age, we all tend to “become attached,” that need to curl up in familiar, safe, and warm territory.
Our querencia, our homeland.
Perhaps some understand it as staying in the same place, others as returning to our origins, but I would say that this endearing place has nothing to do with geography.
I believe it is a phrase attributed to Marcel Proust, it’s not places we miss, but times we miss.
Life takes us from here to there, with our belongings, attachments, and nostalgia. They are a form of companionship, of course, and it’s not easy to let go of them. What is certain is that memories do not take up space and they remain.
At this stage of my life, I will try to find within myself a sunny corner, a portable haven, wherever I happen to live my golden years until my time comes.
It sounds very poetic, but I confess that, for now, in the midst of winter, I would like to pack my bags and go to a real sunny place and bring back a few more trinkets for my collection of memories.
I leave you with a musical gift, “Mi Querencia” (My Beloved Place), performed by our very own María Teresa Chacín.
