Here I am at the market in Lorca on Sunday.
I still have not had a proper cover/ shade/ toldo made for the stand. Just threw a bedspread over it and clipped with clothespegs. I was actually on my way to the seamstress yesterday who will be making the cover when I injured my leg. I am rather incapacitated for a few days (hopefully that is all because I will go CRAZY if I can’t move around). So, I can’t drive and couldn’t make it to the seamstress.
Some other images of my stand on Sunday.
My car with the stand loaded on the roof-rack!
I did want to tell you a little about Lorca though…
Not sure if you all know that there was a bad earthquake there about 1 month ago. Lorca is only 45 minutes from where I live but I didn’t feel the earthquake at all.
Anyway, one thing is to see images on the web or TV but it is another thing entirely to be there and see the devastation caused by the earthquake. There are over 8000 people without homes now because so many of the buildings have been at least partially damaged, cracked and need to be torn down. It felt like a ghost town. So many people have had to leave and look for apartments in the surrounding towns or moved to the country or moved in with friends and/ or family. There is rubble all over the streets, at least after a month they are mostly organized rubble piles now. Here are some images:
This is the rubble behind my stand. To the right, outside of this photo is a school that children can no longer attend because the building suffered damages and is unstable...
I snapped this shot on the way for a coffee from my stand and was later told that it is a mini shrine for 3 men who died in the quake by a piece of falling building...
So why am I writing about this...and posting pictures...? because I am morbid? No. Because of how I was reminded of a lot of important things that day. There were barely any stands that Sunday, not like usual. This market is every second Sunday and usually the whole Plaza is filled with stands. There were not many passers-by because so many people have left Lorca. My car also broke down on the highway on the way home...So, why the heck did I have to go all the way to Lorca that day? Well, as a reminder of how beautiful life is, and how wonderful Spaniards are and how lucky we are to be alive and healthy. That's why.
Each person that stopped to chat, I asked if they had been affected by the earthquake. And EVERY ONE had some marvellous story. They all said that the actual moments of the quakes (there were 2, a few hours apart) were scary and eery. Those who were outside said the ground rippled like waves. But all of the people that I spoke with that day have moved on positively and see the great things that have come out of this. Many have been reunited with family, having to take family members in to live with them. Landlords all over the area have dropped rents to rock-bottom prices to help out the earthquake victims. People are taking in neighbours, friends. And they all said, it took the earthquake to realize what is really important. That things were getting out of hand materially and in fact, they can live on very little. It is the people in your life that count and our health. They all said they felt lucky to be alive.
And so do I....
xoxo
Jen
35 comments:
What a wonderful post! Your stand looks fab (and you do too)! Are those body butters? Scrubs?
Hope your leg mends quickly.
todo precioso animo con la pierna. un saludo.
So often I complain that we have to move due to my husband's work, but seeing the positivity and strong spirit of the people of Lorca, makes me realize there is so much to be thankful for. Thanks Jennifer for such a lovely post and get well soon!!
Coco,Thank you so much for your nice words!! Much appreciated. Those are salt scrubs - a body scrub and a foot scrub - in the big pots. In the medium size pots, they are moisturizing salves, and in the small pots they are lip balms. Glad you enjoyed the post!! xo Jen
Monika, Muchísimas gracias!! xo Jen
Nitya, Your comments are always so thoughtful that I really enjoy whenever you comment. So glad that you enjoyed the post and that it inspired you in some way. Do you have to move around a lot for your husband's job? Where are you originally from? Thank you!! xo Jen
Jen,your market booth looks so refreshing and clean.The colors are perfect - and the display of products so clean. I can't believe you get it all into that little bitty car.Wow!
Do tell what you did to your leg? I hope you are back in full swing very soon - it's a busy time of year for you with all those markets.
Great job!
Michele
Hola Jen !
I like your stand, a lot !
You deserve all the best!
You work hard and be seen!
Today I had a great day,I was in Cadaques, the town of surrealist painter,Dali !
I wholeheartedly recommend you to do a visit !
It is a natural pearl,cultural and spiritual of Catalonia and Spain!
About the disaster of Lorca, of,I;m sincerely sorry!
But Spaniards are great people,optimistic, courageous,very happy and go over it !
I´m glad for you and good luck!
Claudia
Brilliant Jen, the stall looks wonderful and so good to hear that they are still doing markets and keeping life as normal as poss - what a soapstar you are!! X
How unselfish of you to notice all the needs and strengths around you. It is so easy to stay wrapped up in our own worlds and literally not see the "rubble" around us. Thanks for such a thoughtful post
Fantasic photos Jen! you always take great shots, maybe you could start taking photos for the newspaper as a sideline:) love your stand, very rustic and natural looking, just perfect for your lovely soaps. Can't wait to see your cover when you have it done. Hope you didn't do too much damage on your leg and it is better real soon. Luv Jan
Michele, Tierra Verde, Thanks again for your enthusiastic, positive comments. My leg? Well, I pulled a calf muscle while loading the roof rack. I was on the ground with the pain. Now I can't put any weight on it and am walking with crutches... taking GOOD care of it because I want it better QUICKLY! xoxo Jen
Oh wow! Jen, I am happy to hear that you are safe...
I feel bad for those who suffered from the earthquake.
I am wondering what's in those cute cans? bath salt? I love your wrappings =)
Claudia, Thank you so much for your nice words. I will try to get to Dali's home town one day. Totalmente de acuerdo con respeto a los Españoles... Yo creo por la cantidad de tragedia que han vivido este siglo, saben vivir tragedia y siguen adelante... ayudan al pueblo... no se hunden demasiado... son maravillos y me dan inspiricaión. Un beso, Jen
SoapChick, thank you! Well, that is a new one, I have never been called Soapstar! Sounds rather glamorous... Thanks for your comments and support! xo Jen
Donna, you are very welcome. I had a really really bad time last year, around summer. Very difficult to get out of... but I did. One of the things I still do almost every night is write down at least 5 things that I am thankful for about my day, my life just as it is. This is one of the things that helped me pull out of it. I love doing this. Makes me look around me more and see the beauty. I like to learn from challenging situations. Thank you for calling me unselfish. I like to feel unselfish but I don't always feel that way. xoxox Jen
Hi Jen, I hope your leg is better soon. It hadn't heard about the quake(s), thank you so much for sharing (-I don't find you morbid at all, just very caring and sharing as usual!)
Your stand looks really nice -so unique, simple and fresh -just like your products. I would say it's a perfect match! :) ~Becky
Jen,
Thanks for the great reminder of what's important. I'm sure that day had a great impact on you and it sounds like you met some wonderful people.
I like the blue cloth you used over your stand. We often get rain so have to bring a tarp just in case so we don't get drenched. It was great reading about your journey.
Michelle
Your stand looks great, even with your bedspread shade cover ;) Glad to hear that you had such a positive experience in Lorca and that the people there are pulling together to support each other.
Jen, the stand looks great as does all the soap and scrubs. Thank you for sharing your experience in Lorca. I find it especially inspiring to hear that landlords lowered the rents so drastically. There is good in people and it is good to have it acknowledged. Rest as much as you can.
Just checking in to see how you are doing today? Hope you are fine as frog hair very soon - ribbit,ribbit!
Jan, Thanks for your comments about my photos! I think I could get more into photography... I finally made it this evening to the lady that is going to make the stand cover. My husband helped me. We should have it made by next week! Hope you are well! xoxo Jen
AYU, Thanks your for the nice words. Yes, feel thankful that we are safe and sound. The large pots have salt scrubs - a body scrub and a foot scrub. In the medium size pots, they are moisturizing salves, and in the small pots they are lip balms. Glad you like them! I usually have more things like an Aloe Vera cream I make with Aloe Vera from my garden, and a muscle rub with menthol, but I have ran out of key ingredients... ahh managing small business stock... always a challenge. xo Jen
Becky, Thank you so much. Glad you like the match. Your words were very very nice!! The cover should be made by next week! Hopefully before I leave for my trip to Canada... xoxo Jen
Michelle, Two Blooms, You are very welcome. I enjoyed sharing the story. Thank you for the positive comments. xoxo Jen
Anne-Marie, Thanks again for your positive words of encouragement. Don't know how you do it but you are always there with something nice to say. I know!! You don't sleep!! ;-)xo Jen
Anne-Marie, Thanks again for your positive words of encouragement. Don't know how you do it but you are always there with something nice to say. I know!! You don't sleep!! ;-)xo Jen
Tara, Glad you liked my stand and products displayed. I was also really inspired that the landlords lowered rents. Noone trying to make a buck or take advantage... just helping. I loved that. I am trying to rest but it is difficult for someone as active as I... I will bet you understand perfectly. By the end of the day, my foot was so swollen that my husband repeated - God it telling you to SIT DOWN, TAKE A BREAK, LOOK AFTER YOURSELF, AND PUT YOUR FEET UP! I said Okay okay, then... ahh.. will you do the dishes? And he did. xoxo Jen
Michele, Tierra Verde, THank you so much for checkin in! I am not doing as well as expected, probably because I can't sit still. I have 7 days before leaving for Canada and a zillion things to get done. My foot got so swollen today because of the tenser bandage and because I am supposed to have my leg up, that finally I just had to sit down, put leg up and stop. I am more frustrated than anything. Not that much pain. Thank you for asking!! xo Jen
It makes me happy that you like my comments. Thanks!! Yes Jennifer, we have travelled quite a bit...5 countries in 8 years. That means selling and giving away a lot of stuff, moving to another country, settling down and buying them again. The positive side to all the moving is the new places, different cultures and traditions that we get to experience. I am from India and look forward to one final move around the end of this year to get back and settle down in India for good.
I hope you are feeling better today. :)
"I am not doing as well as expected, probably because I can't sit still." Jen, allow yourself to take a load off so that you can function here in a few days - it's a trade off letting your injury rest and heal for a faster recovery girl! :))
Nitya, Wow! 5 times in 8 years? I thought I moved a lot. Sounds like you have a wonderful attitude about it. Positive. I hope you are able to move home this year, just as you would like. xoxo Jen
Michele, Tierra Verde, Thank you for the reminder. You are right. Question for you - where did the Tierra Verde come from? Do you speak Spanish? xoxo Jen
Wow, Jen,
Good thing you are ok, and so sad for the people that live there. We need to count our blessings some times... You stand looks great. Hope it went well.
Jen,
Check your email as I just sent you a response and I'd like to know what products you have in stock.
Michelle
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