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minn Charles B. Spiteri

Terz tal-poplu Ingliż ma jafux li Charles Dickens kiteb Great Expectations. Dan ħareġ fid-dieher minn stħarriġ li sar fuq il-qari. Persuna minn kull sitta li ġew mistoqsija jafux min kiteb Hamlet, wieġbu li ma jafux.

Dickens u Shakespeare mhumiex l-uniċi awturi magħrufin li sezzjonijiet kbar tal-poplu ma jafux bihom – 28 fil-mija tal-adulti ammettew li qatt ma qraw xi ktieb tagħhom. Mhux hekk biss, talli persuna minn kull sebgħa intervistati stqarret li fl-aħħar sena ma qratx lanqas ktieb wieħed.

L-istudju wera li ħafna nies mhux biss irnexxielhom ikomplu l-istudju tagħhom bla ma qatt qraw letteratura klassika fid-dettall, tallli l-istess drawwa baqgħet tkompli f’ħajjithom sakemm kibru. Irriżulta wkoll li 12 fil-mija biss qraw ir-rumanz Much Ado About Nothing; 18 fil-mija Cather in the Rye, u 26 fil-mija għażlu Pride and Prejudice – minkejja l-popolarità enormi tiegħu bħala drama televiżiva u fiċ-ċinematografu.

L-istudju sar fuq 2,000 ruħ. Kwart mill-adulti qalu li qraw inqas minn ħames kotba fl-aħħar sena u l-medja telgħet għal seba’ kotba. Nofs dawk li jaqraw inqas minn għaxar kotba f’sena, qalu li ma jsibux ħin għall-qari u kwart minnhom qalu li jippreferu jagħmlu xi ħaġa oħra. 

Mill-istħarriġ ħareġ ukoll li l-aktar ħin popolari fost in-nies għall-qari tal-kotba hu qabel l-irqad, meta jkunu daħlu fis-sodda. Kien hemm numru ċkejken minn dawk intervistati li stqarrew li l-aktar li jaqraw hu meta jkunu għal xi vaganza.
 

Joseph Henry Abela, Qassis

Il-Malti jgħid: Asħaħ kelmet il-Malti minn kelmet is-sultan u kieku kull min għandu daqna raġel kieku l-bodbod missier l-irġiel.

Fihom x’ taħseb u fl-istess waqt iserrħulek rasek li fid-dinja ssib minn kollox. Tkun żgħir: temmen u toħlom u tibla’ wkoll. Maż-żgħożija tibda tnaqqi u tara min iwiegħed u ma jasalx, u min fommu sieket u ssibu miegħek.

Hemm nies li tismagħhom u tifraħ għax kliemhom balzmu u tassew tħossok il-ġenna magħhom u tfittex tkun qribhom u ħdejhom. Oħrajn ipinġu bi kliemhom u jfasslu u milli għedna ma hemm xejn. Dawn ikunu nies tal-paroli.

Ġorġ Preca il-qaddis Malti kien jgħid ‘Għandna paroli’. Fil-ħajja trid tagħraf tagħżel, tkompli ma’ kulħadd u min hu paroli iżżomu talli hu. L-oħrajn mexxi magħhom (in-nies tal-kelma) kemm tista’.

Dejjem tista’ tiżloq u tiżgarra, imma ma tkunx  waqgħet id-dinja. Tagħmilx plejtu: uża moħħok u dawwar ir-rotta; il-kliem (dak li tgħid u temmen) tridu, il-paroli evitaħ.

Saħħa !

Kien beda Awwissu u l-festa ta’ Santa Liena kienet fil-qrib. Xi jiem qabel, il-mamà ħadet lil Luca u lil Elise sa Tas-Sliema, u xtratilhom libsa u żarbun mis-sbieħ nett. Imbagħad lejlet il-festa, marru għand in-nanna Marija u n-nannu Ġużi. Malli dalam, in-nanniet u t-tfal irħewlha lejn il-pjazza ta’ Birkirkara biex igawdu l-atmosfera tal-festa. Kullimkien kien maħnuq bin-nies. In-nannu refa’ lil Luca fuq spallejh biex jara l-murtali li bdew ifaqqgħu waħda f’waħda fis-smewwiet. In-nanna u Elise qagħdu jħarsu lejn il-vetrini tal-qubbajt. It-tiżwieqa ta’ kuluri tas-sigarri tal-qubbajt imkebbin fil-fidda roża, ħadra, blu u vjola kienet iżżid mal-atmosfera allegruża tal-festa.

Mat-tokki ta’ nofsillejl beda l-ġigġifogu. Kulħadd sab postu fuq iz-zuntier tal-knisja u fil-pjazza biex isegwi l-ispettaklu. Luca u Elise baqgħu ċċassati jħarsu lejn ir-roti jduru bin-nar ikkulurit għax tassew kien fihom gost x’tara. Kien tard ħafna xħin in-nanniet u t-tfal marru lura d-dar u daħlu jorqdu mill-ewwel.

L-għada kulħadd qam kmieni u libes f’ħakka t’għajn. Elise kienet donnha pupa bil-libsa bajda silġ kollha fjuri roża żgħar u bil-kappell tat-tiben f’rasha li kien jaqta’ sew mal-kulur qastni ta’ xagħarha. Lil ħuha wkoll xeraqlu l-qalziet qasir jagħti fiċ-ċelest u l-qmis oranġjo bil-rigi bojod. In-nanna Marija żanżnet libsa roża l-ġmiel tagħha u n-nannu Ġużi libes qalziet griż u qmis bajda.

Wara ftit tal-ħin il-familja kollha marret fil-Bażilika ta’ Santa Liena. Luca u Elise kienu aktar ħsiebhom fil-marċi milli fil-paniġierku. Malli ntemmet il-quddiesa bdiet il-purċissjoni bl-istatwa ta’ Santa Liena fost l-għajjat, iċ-ċapċip u d-daqq tal-marċi. Wara ftit, Luca ntefa’ bilqiegħda ħdejn il-papà u kważi raqad, iżda Elise kompliet iddur qalb il-karti mitfugħin mit-twieqi tan-nies u tiżfen mal-marċi. Sadanittant in-nannu qagħad jixrob il-birra mal-ħbieb tiegħu u n-nanna u l-mamà qagħdu jitkellmu ma’ xi ġirien.

Wara d-dħul tal-istatwa u l-barka sagramentali kulħadd telaq lejn id-dar u poġġa madwar il-mejda tal-ikel. Ir-riħa tfuħ tal-istuffat tal-fenek kienet ilha tinxtamm minn filgħodu. Issa kien imiss li jittiekel flimkien mal-ispagetti. Meta l-familja kollha kienet kielet u xorbot bil-qalb, in-nanna ħarġet il-plattini u serviet is-suflè. Kif  raw lil kulħadd medhi jitkellem, Luca u Elise marru baxx baxx fis-salott biex jiskopru x’kien hemm fiż-żewġ pakketti żgħar miksijin bil-karta minn lewn il-fidda li kienu lemħu aktar kmieni fuq l-armarju tal-kewba. Iżda kienu qegħdin fil-għoli wisq u ma setgħux jilħquhom. F’daqqa waħda semgħu lin-nanna tgħajtilhom b’dak il-leħen ħelu tagħha. Huma ħarsu lejn xulxin, u ftehmu li mal-ewwel ċans li jkollhom jerġgħu jiżgiċċaw sas-salott.

Kienu saru madwar l-erbgħa ta’ wara nofsinhar xħin il-mamà u l-papà bdew jaħsbu biex imorru lejn id-dar. In-nanna Marija refgħet lil Luca u lil Elise u tathom bewsa fuq il-warda ta’ wiċċhom. In-nannu Ġużi mar fis-salott, ħa ż-żewġ pakketti minn fuq l-armarju, u newwilhom lit-tfal. Wiċċhom xegħel għax saflaħħar kienu qabdu l-oġġetti misterjużi b’idejhom. Tahom ferħ ta’ ġenn sakemm qattgħu l-karti tal-fidda, u xħin sabu żewġ kotba bil-Malti tgħidx kemm qabżu bil-ferħ, u għannqu waħda kbira lin-nannu. Wara ftit, il-mamà, il-papà u t-tfal rikbu fil-karozza, u n-nanniet baqgħu jxejrulhom sakemm tbiegħdu sew mit-triq.

Laura was taking a strong cup of Earl Grey tea in her small kitchen, thoughtfully and calmly. The family photo, mounted on a small silver frame, looked down on her from the mantelpiece. It showed a beaming man posing on a sandy beach. A woman beside him was holding on to his arm. A ten year old girl, in a red bathing costume, was perched on his shoulders. 

How well she remembered that day. It was in Blackpool, during their summer holiday some twelve years ago, when her father was on leave from his naval base in Portsmouth. She used to look forward so much to her annual holiday by the seaside. What a happy family they were then. How time flies!

It was now two years since both her parents had died within a few months of each other leaving her alone in this house in Chester. Both her parents would have approved of Daniel, especially Dad who was, like him, a keen football follower. She had met Daniel Johnson six months ago when they were both following a short computer course at the Polytechnic in her home town. She had then just turned 21. They used to have coffee together during lesson breaks. They opened up to each other and talked about a hundred and one different things. They knew, after only a short time, that it was the beginning of something special for both of them. 

Daniel was not a handsome man. Hardly! His nose was large, his mouth stretched too much and his eyes drooped on both sides of his face.  But he had a winning smile. Every time he smiled his face shone, changing its configuration completely. Being a keen singer herself, they attended karaoke nights at the Carlton Club where she would enjoy herself singing ballads and other songs especially ‘Danny Boy’ which was undeniably Daniel’s favourite. He told her about Edinburgh, his home town in Scotland. It is, he said with pride, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe draped across a series of rolling hills overlooking the sea. 

Their romance prospered and, after a short time, he invited her to come with him for a short visit to his birth town. There he showed her around this historic capital city which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Daniel drove her around quaint little villages that nestle around the city. They walked hand in hand along narrow country lanes; window shopped in busy main streets and looked around lovely public gardens. She enjoyed it immensely especially because she was close to the man she had grown to love so much. She vowed that she will continue to remember that day forever. When the computer course ended and he had to go back to Edinburgh, he promised to phone her and continue their love story.     Days, weeks and months passed since his departure. She waited for the promised call or letter. Her new-found happiness was slowly ebbing away. But he never phoned and he never wrote.

Laura did not believe that he must have met another girl and that their own love was over. Their love was short but it was too genuine for him or for her to forget so easily. She was sure that there must have been a plausible reason for him not to contact her. But, subconsciously, she was certain that Daniel still loved her.  In time, which is a great healer, she put her love experience behind her and immersed herself in her work. There was so much to do. Following the computer course she was appointed as supervisor and was having great satisfaction in her work. She made new friends and had dates with different young men from her office. Six months passed. She decided to go on a holiday. But where? London was very metropolitan and too chaotic. Blackpool and other seaside resorts would be too crowded and full of children. No, she wanted somewhere else. Edinburgh? Why not? It would give her the chance to see the sites which Daniel had shown her and which she had loved so much. And maybe look him up or make enquiries about him somewhere.

She arrived at Edinburgh station on a cold January morning and, following directions from a tourist map, set out on her visits – Princess Street, the Castle, the Royal Mile, the magnificent monument of Sir Walter Scott. Daniel had told her that Edinburgh was very closely connected with Alexander Graham Bell, the engineer and telephone pioneer; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the famous Sherlock Holmes; J.R. Rowland, the author of the Harry Potter books; Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote Treasure Island and other classical books; Sean Connery and others. 

One evening, while strolling down Princess Street, she heard singing coming from a pub sited nearby at the end of the street. A Karaoke was on. She entered the place filled with jovial Scots lads and lasses singing their hearts out and enjoying themselves immensely. The announcer was shouting through the microphone. “Any one here game for a solo song?” Caught in the joyful atmosphere of her surroundings, Laura went up the stage, whispered to the band leader, took the mike in her hands and said – “This song is for one who is very close to my heart, wherever his is today !” Then she began to sing Daniel’s favourite song. 

“Oh Danny Boy, the pipes are all now calling,

From glen to glen and down the mountain side.

The summer’s gone, and all the flowers are dying.

If you must go, then go and I must wait and bide,

But come you back when summer’s in the meadow

Or when the valleys hushed are covered white with snow,

I’ll be here waiting in sunshine or in shadow.

Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so.

And if you come when the flowers are all dying,

And I am dead as dead I well may be,

You’ll come and find the place where I’m lying,

And kneel to say an ‘Ave’ there for me. 

Then I shall hear how soft you tread above me

And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be 

If you’ll not fail to tell me that you love me,

I’ll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

Oh Danny Boy. Oh Danny Boy, I love you so. 

The crowd was enthusiastic. They cheered, clapped and shouted for more. They had not heard such a lovely voice for a long time. Everyone was familiar with the powerful words of this song but never before had they heard it sung in such a way. There was not a sound while Laura was singing. Even the barmen stopped their service and, spellbound, concentrated on the heavenly voice. Laura’s caressing words bathed the cool night in soft gentle warmth, weaving a magical spell all around. “But come you back when the summer’s in the meadow, or when the valleys are white with snow.” Her lovely voice rang out clear and fine, as now the folks began to sing along with her, until the chorus swelled so strong that it could have been heard many miles away. “For I’ll be here in sunshine or in meadow – Oh Danny boy, Oh Danny boy, I love you so ….”

The song had never moved her so deeply. Where was her Daniel? If only he could hear her sing his song. When her sad eyes scanned those faces all reaching out to her, she saw one other who stabbed her heart. It was an old man who appeared to be isolated from the crowd – a small solitary figure lost in his thoughts, his face creased with anguish. But through the tears which ran heedlessly down his face, there shone a defiant pride which lit up his features with a haunting beauty and which made Laura wonder whether he also was thinking of his beloved one, now gone away from him. When the song drew to a close, the crowd stood transfixed, then, of a sudden, the silence was broken. The cheers that had caught in the choking fullness of their thoughts broke through in waves of shouts and cheers, all praising Laura and all wanting more. She thanked them all but went down the stage and sat at a table to compose herself. The melancholic lyrics of this beautiful song had brought up so many memories of her Daniel that she needed to rest. Then slowly and discreetly she went out of the side door. 

On the last day of her visit, tired from her walks, she entered St.Mary’s Cathedral and sat down admiring the architecture and paintings of this lovely church.  Then she followed other visitors who wandered to the churchyard alongside the same church. The grass here was green and fresh. A place that spoke of peace and rest. She passed the time reading the epitaphs mounted on the rows of graves, people who had lived and died in this northern town – “Shaw”, “Gilbert”, “McCulloch”, “Spencer”, “McTavish”, “Williams” …………….

Then she saw it. The epitaph on a white marble headstone – “Daniel Johnson, born 20.6.1986. Died in a car accident on 15.4.2009. Rest in Peace.”  She gasped. Daniel was dead! This was his grave! At that very moment she realized what had prevented him from writing or calling her. She turned blindly away, the tears, stemmed for so long, flowed unheeded down her cold face.  

Charles B. Spiteri

F’dawn l-aħħar snin, Kodak taf irrekordjat l-agħar żminijiet tagħha. Iżda 120 sena ilu, kienet il-pijuniera għall-fotografija tan-nies komuni.

Fl-1888 ħolqot il-Kodak No 1, li tat lill-klijenti ċ-ċans li jiġbdu xeni rilassanti u li qabel kien jinġibdu biss minn fotografi professjonali. Minn dawn ir-ritratti għad hawn fl-idejn. Ritratti li nġibdu fis-seklu 19.

Il-camera No 1 kienet tkun mimlija b’negattivi biżżejjed biex dak li jkun jiġbed mitt ritratt. Meta l-fotografu jiġbed ir-ritratti kollha,  li kienu jkunu tondi, kien ikollu jieħu l-camera b’kollox lil Kodak, li appena tiżviluppalu r-ritratti, terġa’ timlielu l-camera b’negattivi oħra. Din l-istess camera, li kellha kisja ħoxna tal-ġild kienet tinbiegħ bis-slogan “Int tagħfas il-buttuna u aħna nagħmlu l-kumpalment!”

Il-kumpanija Eastman iddisinjat il-cameras flimkien ma’ Frank A. Brownell, mastrudaxxa, li beda l-produzzjoni tal-fabbrika.

Snin wara, Kodak qed titqies bħala li baqgħet lura milli tħaddan it-teknoloġija moderna bħalma hi l-fotografija diġitali, li kienet l-invenzjoni tagħha stess. Sentejn ilu l-Kodak applikat għall-protezzjoni kontra l-falliment u ħabbret li se tieqaf milli tipproduċi l-cameras diġitali; il-video cameras tal-but u l-frames diġitali tar-ritratti. Dan kollu biex taqta’ l-ispejjeż.

Kien rappurtat ukoll li l-kumpanija, issa se tikkonċentra fuq il-bejgħ tat-tagħmir għall-istampar u servizzi għan-negozji.

Charles B. Spiteri

Il-Papa għadu kif akkuża lil bosta mill-predeċessuri tiegħu bħala nies narċiżisti, li ħallew lilhom infushom ikunu mfaħħrin mill-ajjutanti tagħhom infushom.

Il-Papa Franġisku, riformatur ewlieni tal-Knisja, wiegħed li se jagħmel ħiltu kollha biex ibiddel il-mentalità tal-Vatikan, u qal li s-Santa Sede kienet wisq iffukata fl-interessi tagħha stess.

Waqt li kompla jattakka t-tradizzjonijiet passati tal-Vatikan, li issa jidhru li għamlu żmienhom, f’intervista mal-Editur tal-gazzetta xellugija Taljana La Repubblica, il-Papa qal li l-Qorti Papali kienet il-lebbra tal-Papat. Din l-intervista xxandret fl-istess waqt li l-Papa beda żjara privata ta’ tlett ijiem biex jiltaqa’ ma’ tmien kardinali minn madwar id-dinja biex jgħinuh jirriforma l-amministrazzjoni tal-Vatikan, magħrufa bħala l-Kurja.

Dan għax il-Papa jemmen li l-Kurja preżenti aktar qed tagħti kas tal-interessi temporali, waqt li mhix tagħti kas tal-ħtiġiet veri li tabilħaqq huma meħtieġa madwar id-dinja. Hu wiegħed li se jagħmel dak kollu possibbli biex joħloq il-bidla meħtieġa.

Il-Papa Franġisku qal li t-tmien kardinali li għażel, se jinħatru biex jagħtuh il-pariri meħtieġa, u l-għażla tagħhom saret għax m’għandhomx motivi egoisti. Permezz tagħhom il-Papa jrid li l-Knisja jkollha organizzazzjoni li ma tkunx biss vertikali iżda wkoll orizzontali.

Rigward it-twemmin tal-fidi personali, il-Papa Franġisku kien rappurtat li qal: “Ma jeżistix Alla Kattoliku… Jien nemmen f’ Ġesù Kristu u fl-inkarnazzjoni tiegħu. Ġesù hu s-sid  u r-ragħaj tiegħi, iżda Alla u l-missier… id-dawl u l-kreatur. Dan hu li nemmen jien.”

Joseph Henry Abela, Qassis

Il-ħajja ta’ kuljum tindera u ssir qisha rota bla kisra, bla heda, bla ferħ, bla gost, bla ħajra.

Għalhekk aħna nfittxu l-ġdid, il-ħoss, il-pjaċir, ix-xorb, il-briju. Briju jagħmel il-ħajja ferrieħa, siewja, iġennek. Ikliet, daqq, żfin, sparar tal-festi, baned.  Imma jekk ma noqogħdux attenti malajr naqbżu l-qies. Il-ħaġa, l-għemil, l-imġiba jitlef il-gost tiegħu għax jibda jdejjaq, ikidd, imarrad, jinnervja.

Jekk ikun l-għaqal, minnek, minni, minna, ikollna ċertu ġieħ għal xulxin u jkun hawn wisa’ għal kulħadd. Jekk le, tikber it-tensjoni, id-dwejjaq u l-inkwiet.

Ta’ kuljum iweġġa’ r-ras u jekk ma tilqgħux issa, tista’ ssir straġi li ma tistenniex.

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Toninu Falzon mill-Birgu, li fi ċkunitu l-familja tiegħu marret tgħix il-Marsa, kien tifel li jattendi l-Museum b’mod regolari, iżda meta faqqgħet l-aħħar gwerra, inġabar bil-lieva u serva bħala suldat. Tul l-erba’ snin ta’ tħarbit ħadd ma kien jaf x’sar mill-għaqda tad-duttrina, għax il-laqgħat waqfu. Kien f’dan l-istess żmien li Toninu beda jinġibed lejn is-Sagrament taż-żwieġ. Meta ntemmet il-gwerra tkellem fuq hekk ma’ ommu u staqsieha kinitx taf b’xi xbejba għaż-żwieġ.

Mingħajr titubar, ommu Katy nee Forte, semmietlu lil Lucy, bint Tereża, li kienu bil-ħanut maġenbhom. Qaltlu li kienet tifla bieżla u li kienet temmen li hi addattata għalih. Mhux hekk biss, talli Katie għarrfet hi stess lil żewġha Ġużeppi bil-ħsieb ta’ binhom.

Għalhekk, Toninu nqeda biż-żewġ ħutu bniet, Tereża u Mary li spiss kienu joħorġu ma’ Lucy, biex iwasslulu l-istedina għall-imħabba.

Min-naħa tagħha, Lucy, bint Francesco, neguzjant u Tereża, qaltli li hi kienet l-unika tifla fil-familja. Għandha żewġ ħutha oħra, wieħed akbar u l-ieħor iżgħar minnha. Minħabba f’hekk kienet il-mimmi tal-ġenituri tagħha.

Passiġġati u talb

Spiss, matul il-ġimgħa, flimkien ma’ ħut Toninu, kienu jpassu mill-Marsa għall-kappella ta’ Lourdes fil-Furjana, fejn jgħidu xi talb. Darba waħda, f’Marzu tal-1945, waqt li kienu għal din il-passiġġata, Tereża qaltilha li ħuha Toninu kellu ġibda għaliha. Lucy ssummat u ma weġbitha xejn, għax qabel riedet tieħu l-permess tal-ġenituri tagħha.

Meta marret id-dar qalet b’kollox lil ommha, li staqsietha x’kienet wieġbet lil Tereża. Hi ammettiet li ma weġbitha xejn, għax xtaqet tara x’tgħidilha hi. U ommha weġbitha “issa naraw”. Sadattant marret tgħid lil żewġha Francesco bl-aħbar ta’ binthom u kulma qalilha kien “dak jogħġobni”. Lucy ssemmi li xi xahrejn qabel, kien mar xi ħadd ieħor ikellem lil missierha biex jitolbu jiżżewweġ lil bintu u missierha mhux talli ma riedx, talli kien bagħatha l-knisja biex lanqas tara min kien.

Bi tbissima tirrakkonta wkoll li wieħed minn zijietha, ġuvni, li kien ikun sikwit għandhom; meta sema’ mingħand ommha bil-ġibda ta’ Toninu lejn Lucy, qal lil missierha “lil dan ma tgħidlux le, ta!” U missierha wrieh li lest jaċċettah.

B’hekk, omm Lucy qaltilha biex meta terġa’ tiltaqa’ ma’ Tereża tistaqsieha jekk dak li kienet qaltilha, kienx minnu, u jekk tgħidilha li kien tassew, tweġibha “iva”. Għamlet hekk u mill-ewwel kienet aċċettata bħala waħda tal-familja u bdiet tidħol id-dar għandhom. Matul dan l-episodju, Lucy kellha 19 u Toninu 25 sena.

Aħwa ’l-aħwa

In-namur ma kienx jeżisti. Ladarba l-ġenituri jkunu jafu bil-ħsieb rett, kienet tibda l-għerusija, b’data fissa għaż-żwieġ, li ta’ dawn l-għarajjes kienet it-28 ta’ April tal-1946. Bħala għarajjes kienu joħorġu għal xi passiġġati, iżda dejjem iġorru magħhom lil oħt Toninu, li inċidentalment, spiċċat biex iżżewġet lil ħu Lucy.

Toninu u Lucy jiftakru li kienu xtraw iċ-ċrieket tal-għerusija u tawhom lil xulxin waqt riċeviment fejn tlaqqgħu l-ġenituri. Matul din il-laqgħa kienet saret diskussjoni fuq id-dota, fejn l-għarajjes ingħataw kulma kellhom bżonn għad-dar…tant li wara 68 sena għad għandhom bosta tifkiriet tad-dotarju.

Il-koppja Falzon qaltli li peress li dak iż-żmien kienet għadha kif intemmet il-gwerra, ma tantx kien hawn postijiet fejn imorru jabitaw tabita fihom, għax ħafna kienu ġġarrfu. Iżda l-familja ta’ Lucy, li kellha dar kbira, offritilhom imorru joqogħdu għandha sa ma jsibu fejn joqogħdu. Min-naħa tagħhom, Toninu u Lucy kienu diġa’ qabbdu sensara biex issibilhom dar għalihom.

Ġara iżda li l-familja ta’ Lucy kellhom dar mikrija l-Marsa u min kien joqgħod fiha kien se jmur l-Afrika ta’ Isfel. B’hekk ingħataw din id-dar biex imorru joqogħdu fiha.

Toninu u Lucy żżewġu fil-jum tal-Ħadd, peress li minħabba l-ħwienet li kellhom il-familja ta’ Lucy, din kienet l-aktar ġurnata ideali. Il-kunsens taż-żwieġ sar filgħaxija, fil-knisja parrokkjali tat-Trinita’. Żewwiġhom Patri Ġużepp Falzon, Dumnikan, li hu l-prim kuġin ta’ Toninu u li kien għadu kif ħa l-quddiesa tliet xhur qabel. Bħala xhieda kellhom ziju minn kull naħa, it-tnejn jisimhom Carmelo.

Ir-riċeviment

Ir-riċeviment tat-tieġ għamluh f’sala fi Triq Balbi, il-Marsa. Kellhom tieġ sabiħ minkejja li kienet għadha kif spiċċat il-gwerra.

Wara t-tieġ marru għall-qamar il-għasel fil-lukanda Riviera, Għajn Tuffieħa u mbagħad niżlu fid-dar ġdida tagħhom biex jibdew ħajjithom.

L-ewwel tarbija li kellhom kienet tifla, illum Suor Olivia, Dumnikana. Imbagħad kellhom lil Catherine, miżżewġa lil John Calleja u għandhom żewġt itfal, Christian u Clarissa. Wara kellhom lil Tessie, miżżewġa lil Twanny Cutajar u għandhom tlett itfal; Norbert, Ruben u Maria Alexia. Fl-aħħar kellhom lil Joe, li hu miżżewweġ lil Josette u wkoll għandhom tlett itfal; Nicholas, Daniel u David. B’hekk, Toninu u Lucy huma nanniet ta’ tmien neputijiet u bużnanniet ta’ żewġ pro neputijiet Samuel u Julia, ulied Nicholas, li hu bin Joe.

Mitluba jagħtu l-fehma tagħhom fuq il-valuri tal-passat u llum, il-koppja Falzon taqbel li fl-antik il-bniedem kien aktar reliġjuż u jfittex lil Alla. Illum, il-materjaliżmu kiber u qaċċat lill-ispiritwalita’. U qed naraw li aktar mal-bniedem jingħaqad mal-materjal, jinqata’ għal kollox mill-ispiritwal.
Biex Lucy tfiehem kemm kienet qawwija r-reliġjożita’ fi żmienhom, issemmi li f’pajjiżna kien daħal it-talkies. Ħafna żgħażagħ kienu jmorru biex jaraw xi filmat. Hi kienet tgħid lil missierha biex xi darba tmur, u hu kien iweġibha li xi darba joħodha. Darba, wara li reġgħet qaltlu, qalilha biex tmur tbiddel. Lucy ħadet gost kbir u rat lil ommha u lil ħutha mbiddlin ukoll. Iżda mbagħad kienu jispiċċaw iċ-ċimiterju, fejn kienu jitilgħu ħdejn il-kappella u jagħmlu l-Via Sagra u jitolbu għall-mejtin. Din kienet rutina regolari. U meta ma jmorrux iċ-ċimiterju, kienu jattendu l-knisja għall-prietka jew katekiżmu ta’ wara nofsinhar. Illum, tgħid Lucy, dawn l-affarijiet inqatgħu għal kollox.

Differenzi

Mitlubin jgħidu x’jaraw differenti mill-għerusija tal-imgħoddi għal dik tal-lum, Lucy tgħid li hemm baħar bejniethom. Illum, iż-żgħażagħ joħorġu, imorru fejn iridu u jdumu kemm iridu. Illum ma jġorru lil ħadd magħhom bħala chaperon. Barra minhekk, meta l-ġenituri l-antiki kien ikollhom lil uliedhom għarajjes, kien ikollhom seba’ mitt sena sakemm iżewġuhom, biex ir-responsabbilta’ tagħhom ikunu wettquha fil-milja tagħha.

Toninu jgħid li d-differenza kollha tinsab fid-dixxiplina. Dari, id-dixxiplina kienet serja. Illum, din battiet ukoll. U fejn ma jkunx hemm dixxiplina, il-bniedem jasal jiftaħ il-bibien tal-passjonijiet, u dawn jiġru bih u jwaqqgħuh f’kull tiġrib.

Toninu żied li eżempju tipiku tan-nuqqas tad-dixxiplina jidher sew fl-iskejjel Maltin. Fejn dari, jekk għalliem jikkorreġi student u jagħtih xi daqqa ta’ riga, il-ġenituri kienu jaqblu mal-għalliema – illum issib lill-ġenituri jieħdu l-linja tal-ulied u jmorru għas-sodisfazzjon, jekk mhux ukoll iħebbu għall-għalliem.

Ikompli jtenni li jekk il-ġenituri tal-lum ma jżommux il-bastun tad-dixxiplina, għad jiġi żmien li l-bastun ikun f’idejn ħaddieħor u jsawwat lilhom infushom minflok. Apparti dan, maż-żmien, l-ulied għad jisħtu lill-ġenituri tagħhom, għax la jkunu draw bla dixxiplina, ma jkunu lesti jbaxxu rashom għal ħadd.

Mitlubin jistqarru x’kienet ir-riċetta għal 63 sena żwieġ hieni, il-koppja Falzon taqbel mal-kliem ta’ Patri Paten, li “min jitlob flimkien, jibqa’ flimkien”. Jekk ma jkunx hemm Alla l-imbierek bejn ir-raġel u l-mara, il-problemi li jinqalgħu, iġarrfu kollox. Kulħadd kellu, għandu u jibqa’ jkollu l-problemi tul ħajtu. Id-differenza fis-soluzzjoni tagħhom hi biss fir-rigward ikunx hemm Alla fil-qalb tal-koppja. Jekk iva, kull problema ddub u tixxejjen, jekk le, il-koppja tasal tinfired. Għax ir-reliġjożita’ twasslek biex bl-umilta’, tagħraf, tagħder u taħfer, iżda jekk ma tkunx trid taf bir-reliġjon, ir-ras iebsa twasslek għad-dagħbien u t-telfien tar-ruħ.

L-għajnuna ta’ Alla

Min-naħa l-oħra jaqblu li meta koppja miżżewġa jkollha xi tgħid bejnietha, m’għandha qatt tirrikorri għall-għajnuna tal-ġenituri jew tal-ħbieb, għax dawn jafu jxaqilbu lejn xi parti u jagħmlu aktar ħsara milli ġid. Meta raġel u mara jiżżewġu, għandhom ikunu kapaċi li fin-nuqqasijiet tagħhom stess, jiddiskutu bejniethom u jsolvu d-differenzi ta’ bejniethom weħidhom, bl-għajnuna ta’ Alla.

F’għeluq il-ħamsin u sittin sena żwieġ, Toninu u Lucy iċċelebraw b’quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament. Għall-ħamsin sena, din tqaddset fil-Għar tal-Madonna Dumnikani, r-Rabat. Qaddsilhom l-istess Patri li żewwiġhom – Fr. Joe Falzon u wara marru għal ikla f’ristorant ir-Rabat. Fl-okkażjoni tas-sittin sena żwieġ, il-quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament għamluha fil-knisja San Ġorġ Preca u qaddsilhom Dun Gordon Refalo. Wara marru għal ikla f’ristorant f’Ta’ Xbiex. Għaż-żewġ okkażjonijiet, ġiet mill-Awstralja binthom Suor Olivia, fejn ilha f’missjoni snin sħaħ.