Literal Latté‘s spring 2015 issue is up–and with it my story, “Cloud Seeding in the Andes,” beautifully illustrated by Joseba Elorza. Coincidentally, today also marks 35 years since we returned to the US from that first trip to Ecuador–first for me, first that counts in memory–the trip that has served as springboard (nest, epicenter, scaffolding, excuse) for that story and others. A lot has changed in 35 years: friends have had children; friends have died. I miss them. And I have knit and re-knitted, or woven and raveled, or bound and rebound in many little books, a set of memories that remain real yet are wholly invented, or are invented, yet entirely real.
I’ve written here before (I think–memory fails) about nostalgia, about how the far-away is so much closer now, easily obtained. But contact, real company, is difficult as ever. I see my friends online, now all grown up like me, but airfares are pricey and we don’t visit often, not in person. But I’m grateful to have made the trip, even once.
“Cloud Seeing in the Andes” is about that search for contact or confirmation. It’s about learning Spanish. It’s about butterflies. It’s about drought.
I’ve only begun to dabble through the rest of the issue, but I already feel myself in good company and look forward to reading more. I hope others will, too.