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The nonagenarian
Not far away from the city of Focsani,
in a village lying between meadows saw the light a girl
whose parents were skilful handlers of hoe and mower,
and they also knew the craft of willow and bulrush braids.
But her fate was inauspicious. She remained orphaned of both parents at an early age.
She, Constantina, learned from little up everything that was possible to – to enjoy life.
She was beautiful, her complexion was fair and soft,
her eyes were blue, her words were gentle but categorical and had steadfast life fundamentals.
She decided at a rather young age to marry a young man who was living upstream the river crossing her rich land.
World was passing under fume and fret.
The war had broken up and her much too young husband didn’t return from the battle field anymore.
And, as is if it hadn’t been enough, her baby,
the fruit of her first love, also died.
She picked up heart and she fostered two twin nephews whose parents perished in sickness and misery.
The twins lightened her life, they were her sunray and her source of energy and optimism.
But, from the battlefield, returned a young man with a tiny moustache, who had his own story.
She, Constantina, because this is how the villagers used to name her, decided to rebuild her life.
She hadn’t any time to loss.
So, she gave birth to four children – two princes
and two princesses while the state signed peace treaties and all sorts of agreements with other nations.
But her life still wasn’t a fairy tale because he,
Costica Gogu, was at that moment her husband.
He was the one whom she worked with.
They built a house from the ground, gave birth to children,
they educated them in schools, they earned money from darning, spinning and twining.
At dawn, the cart was leaving to the fair and Munteni marketplace in Focsani,
as well as to the Jew’s house with mats, baskets and coverings.
But her joy was that she gave the community two teachers
and two masters who are now over sixty years old and may be the future nonagenarians.
Do you want to get a good proven life advice?
Do you want to get out of the state of numbness?
Do you want to get a good dose of optimism?
Then go to mother Constantina and you will leave with the best thoughts.
The joy of her life is represented by the fact that she back her children up to have good lives,
she haw eight grand-children and twelve grand-grand-children.
At Valea Brazilor monastery from Panciu, the nonagenarian celebrated her entire life,
close to God, surrounded by her family and many people. Reading religious books,
prayers and faith and the observance of customs and traditions were her allies and advisors.
It is her who is the nonagenarian, my mother, with a bright mind and a rosy smile.
Thank you, mother, and forgive me if I upset you.
Your eldest daughter, Cornelia Plescan.
Translation: Adrian Balin student Al. I. Cuza Focsani College
Adaptation: Tatarus Alin