My grandfather Alejandro Maldonado died without asking permission. One frosty May night she walked me, sheltered in her striped poncho, until she saw me fast asleep. After putting me to bed in the crib, he went to die without permission. I was four months old, he was sixty-eight years old. I carried this absence, just as he carried me that night. Over time, that orphan became fear, apprehension, horror from the death of those around me. I avoided making friends, meeting more people, loving many.

It was this callous and embodied fear that led me to knock on the door of psychoanalysis and discover the word as a way to stay afloat. And it was life that led me to say, write, tell and finally share what I learned and understood about the power of words. Life has given me wonderful people who also want and can tell, write, tell and share their stories.

I met Maria Fernanda Gómez, “la Fer”, more than four years ago. He came to one of my first workshops and these years I have been reading and experiencing his texts up close. Lyrics that started like a kitten and ended up roaring like a lion.

Revenge

Fer disappeared a while ago and suddenly called me: teacher, teacher, professorI think I have stories for a book. And I had them!

The day I received her stories, I came face to face with another María Fernando, self-confident and strong, who says clearly and confidently in her prologue: “I would believe that I was writing for others, because I started with letters and stories that I used to give away. However, over time I realized that I was doing it for myself and that it happened without thinking.

When an impudent idea enters my head, not to leave me alone. From insolence it turns into boldness; the latter, without asking permission, invites any character he wants to talk about. Together they surround me and organize themselves like criminals in the lair I took care of.”

And that day comes

2024 will be the year of Saywa

Fer Gómez is an architect by profession, and maybe that’s why it’s easy for her to erase, draw, design, structure and gracefully handle various subjects. Some easy, some hard, but all intense.

Clarisse Pinkole Estés’ phrase, which we chose in the editing process for the background of the cover, corresponds to the title of the book. Says the author Women who run with the wolves: “The common prohibition against washing dirty laundry outside the home contains an irony, because the family’s dirty laundry is never washed at home, it remains forever locked in the darkest corner of the basement. It’s nice to look there and share it in a safe space. If you don’t think you can say it out loud, write it down. Never too late”.

The title of the book is Dirty clothes are washed with the inscription. La Fer called him that, although the formal christening with celebration will be this Saturday, December 16. Exactly on the day of the Annunciation, and although I am very disbelieving, I am sure that this is an announcement that María Fernanda Gómez will not rest on her laurels, she will certainly continue in the profession of erasing, drawing, designing, structuring and creating many more stories. (OR)