My joyful neighbors, by Leonor Henríquez

Friedensreich Hundertwasser Atril press — Friedensreich Hundertwasser,
Tratado de paz con la naturaleza, 1986

I am very lucky to have wonderful neighbors.

In the summer they cut my grass. In the winter they shovel the snow for me.

They lend me books, they invite me to drink wine, they give me financial and even sentimental advice.

I thank them by bringing them flowers from time to time or leaving a box of chocolates and a card at their door.

But my back neighbors are something else.

They live in a marvelous building, with a privileged view and superb architecture, specially designed for the severity of the climate in these latitudes.

The problem is that this time of year they get rowdy.

From very early in the morning they are talking and bringing materials, wood, sticks. In Calgary there is a saying that there are only two seasons, “winter and construction season”.

It is the season to build, remodel, add comfort to the home.

And of course, for these neighbors in particular, it is the ideal weather to improve comfort.

All day, they come and go, talk to each other and sing, very loud.

But I adore them all, even though they do parties, interrupt my sleep and are especially loud in the afternoons.

They are magnificent, in their varied plumage and vocal registers.

Yes, you guessed it, they are the most beautiful variety of Canadian birds that come to inhabit their condominium, in its unique architectural beauty: the gigantic pine tree in my garden.

My happy back neighbors are robins, chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, pheasants and even the magpies are majestic.

It is my aerial life, my birds, my new iconography.

Home.

The place where we can cry and sing to our heart’s content.