They still use the term haberdashery in this country. When was the last time you used this really fun word? I never have.

Do you actually know what it means? I most certainly did not. In fact, I always thought it was some weird British word used when referring to ‘a store full of knick-knacks’, when in fact it is a weird British word referring to ‘small items used in sewing, such as buttons, zips, and thread.’

Haberdashery rolls off the tongue, and I have been walking around all day repeatedly whispering it to myself. Which means that I need to use it more often. Which means that I now must take up sewing.

I ate sardines again, y’all. Only this time I ate two stakes, and so ten of them. Each one of which was double the size of those I had yesterday. That means that while I devoured all but the head yesterday, today I was forced to use a knife and fork so that I might peel away the outside from. The. Intestines. And other dark matter.

I may…I may have discovered my limit. I’ll let you know tomorrow if by then I am still made nauseous by the thoughts of more sardines on a stick filled with Intestines. And dark matter.

Penultimately, a kind barista who looked dumbfounded when I asked for a ‘café au lait’, and then tried a ‘café latté’, and finally a ‘café con leche’, drew different levels of coffee with milk, and named each one against the drawing. They explained that in Málaga, the language for espresso with milk is: nube (one shot), sombra (two), corto (three), and mitad (four). I don’t know if I believe them or am on board entirely. Can anyone other than Google translate confirm?

Finally, as you can somewhat see above, I have a little bit of a sunburn and I’m excited about the crisping of my pale skin. I need some pinks and browns because I feel as though I am otherwise fading.

Today, I am grateful for:
1. The smiles and hellos of every strangers I walk past. On days like today, when I am feeling quite alone and lonely in my emotions, it means far more than they might imagine.
2. The French couple who owns Paris-Plage (Paseo Marítimo el Pedregal, 46), the restaurant at which I yesterday and today found myself enjoying the sound of waves crashing against the coast, a few meters away from my feet. Isabelle greets everyone with “Ola. Bonjour. Hello. Salut”; when she received an American “Hi” in response, she cackled, looked at me and said “But I keep trying!”
3. By discussing the beauty of cigarette smoking, the French gentleman attempting to seduce the American woman over lunch. A for effort, friend.

Málaga | March 20, 2019

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