About Senti
Mar. 22nd, 2020 09:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smokingbootPresentacion Romero De Gracia was a spark, all cheek and boldness. She almost embodied the adage that it's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission, though even that was unlikely from her. She did as she pleased and seldom repented it.
Years after the Spanish Civil War, she suggested to Mum that they start their own business; all the girls in the family could sew very well, though none so well as their mother. This was very much genteel stuff, embroidery, etc, and Senti suggested that they take in silk stockings for folk and darn them, both being able to sew with such expertise that their mends were almost invisible. It was a practical idea, as Grandfather, having been imprisoned by both the fascists and the communists and having had his house burnt down by the latter, did not have a lot of money, and the girls were chafing for a little cash of their own. When Grandmother found out, both girls were thoroughly smacked. Grandmother came from an age where ladies didn't work.
'If a piece of bread comes into this house,' she said, 'we divide it into eight. But if I catch either of you girls working again, you will be very sorry.'
So the girls gave up their little cottage industry and went without, until Senty saw the advertisement for nurses in England. After barracking her parents til they were almost ready to pay someone to take her away, they surrendered, she came across to England, and began her nursing career.
In those times, the trainee nurses lived in dorms. She saw the other Spanish girls praying their rosaries each night and scorned the idea. 'I wanted to go out and have fun! To live!'
And live she did. It was a matter of time before she beckoned her sister, my mother, across to a more independent life with money of one's own. Grandfather was very reluctant to let mum go; perhaps he sensed she had a much more delicate temperament than Senti. But eventually he let her come, I think with the understanding that she would be chaperoned by her sister. And they all got together and had a thorough laugh.
Senti was a party girl for much of her life, climbing up through the ranks of the NHS, doing well, travelling and enjoying herself. She had boyfriends when she was in Spain, but after that generally liked to have a female companion, though we never knew if she was a lesbian or not. She never married. When my father deserted us as was his wont from time to time, she was a great support. Sometimes we all lived together, she was never far. She was wicked and witty and brutally blunt, but not to me. She was the first person to admit my mother's illness, and to try to help me be philosophical about it. I cannot count the number of ways in which my aunt was magnificent.
It has not been my lot to be a mother; I never wanted it and even now, don't feel I have the patience to do it well. But I'm OK at Aunting and that's because I had the very best examples to follow.
RIP Aunty Senty. Thank you will never be enough. My gratitude and love are all I can give you, and they are yours forever Rebel Girl XXXX
Years after the Spanish Civil War, she suggested to Mum that they start their own business; all the girls in the family could sew very well, though none so well as their mother. This was very much genteel stuff, embroidery, etc, and Senti suggested that they take in silk stockings for folk and darn them, both being able to sew with such expertise that their mends were almost invisible. It was a practical idea, as Grandfather, having been imprisoned by both the fascists and the communists and having had his house burnt down by the latter, did not have a lot of money, and the girls were chafing for a little cash of their own. When Grandmother found out, both girls were thoroughly smacked. Grandmother came from an age where ladies didn't work.
'If a piece of bread comes into this house,' she said, 'we divide it into eight. But if I catch either of you girls working again, you will be very sorry.'
So the girls gave up their little cottage industry and went without, until Senty saw the advertisement for nurses in England. After barracking her parents til they were almost ready to pay someone to take her away, they surrendered, she came across to England, and began her nursing career.
In those times, the trainee nurses lived in dorms. She saw the other Spanish girls praying their rosaries each night and scorned the idea. 'I wanted to go out and have fun! To live!'
And live she did. It was a matter of time before she beckoned her sister, my mother, across to a more independent life with money of one's own. Grandfather was very reluctant to let mum go; perhaps he sensed she had a much more delicate temperament than Senti. But eventually he let her come, I think with the understanding that she would be chaperoned by her sister. And they all got together and had a thorough laugh.
Senti was a party girl for much of her life, climbing up through the ranks of the NHS, doing well, travelling and enjoying herself. She had boyfriends when she was in Spain, but after that generally liked to have a female companion, though we never knew if she was a lesbian or not. She never married. When my father deserted us as was his wont from time to time, she was a great support. Sometimes we all lived together, she was never far. She was wicked and witty and brutally blunt, but not to me. She was the first person to admit my mother's illness, and to try to help me be philosophical about it. I cannot count the number of ways in which my aunt was magnificent.
It has not been my lot to be a mother; I never wanted it and even now, don't feel I have the patience to do it well. But I'm OK at Aunting and that's because I had the very best examples to follow.
RIP Aunty Senty. Thank you will never be enough. My gratitude and love are all I can give you, and they are yours forever Rebel Girl XXXX
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Date: 2020-03-24 02:04 pm (UTC)