The Missing Digit That Said I l?ve you.

It’s true that Argentina was dreamy and magical, but it was also a time of deep reflection for me. And I was actually happy to be feeling away. But sometimes my thoughts needed to be said aloud and preferably in English. I ended up calling my parents more than expected for someone who considers themselves quite independent and not easily homesick. Usually at odd hours of the night, dialing 001 903 ……

“Hi, its me.”

“Let us call you right back so it’s on our bill.”

“k, thanks. “ click

Ring Ring.

“Hi.”

“Hi, how ya doin and how’s the Spanish?”

This was the beginning of a many great and comforting conversations with my parents. They let me talk out my 2007 realizations and I was becoming better for it.

The minutes passed but I was always the one to say, ”I’m good now. Thanks. Goodnight.”
And then I’d wake up again to Argentine opera music and Christinia painting in the kitchen, which was also quite soothing in a non conversationalist sort of way.

Returning home, I found ways to interject my experiences from Argentina in most all conversations. My bewitchment of it was apparent. While telling stories to my parents, I remembered,

“Did you get the phone bill from my calls?”

My Dad was staring into his Mac screen and my Mom was eBay packaging. Neither one looked up or answered. The silence made me unsure if either one had been listening.
Then right at the moment that the delayed response would have made me ask again, my Dad spoke up,

“Fifty dollars.”

‘Fifty. Not bad,’ I thought.


I let it put me at ease and went on talking, Argentina this and that.

Sometime later when I was visiting home again, I went into the office to use my mother’s computer. A system of bookkeeping and very important papers lined her rectangular work space. I sat down and read a paper off to the side. It was from a phone company and dated for the months I was in Buenos Aires. First noticing the all caps, ‘TOTAL:’ in the lower right corner, my attention zeroed in on what was missing from the 'fifty' they had told me earlier. Pun intended.

And it was in a decimal place that counted.

But its value was not because it was in the ten’s place.
Its greatest value was in the fact that it was missing. And that it was my parent’s secret.
But I knew where it was. It was the missing digit that said,
I L-0-ve you.


Thanks ya'll and Happy Valentine's Day to my fam!

Automatic songs for today are Main Theme from Notebook (so you can appropriately weep while reading.) And then Stevie wonder, I Just Called To Say I Love You.