My Santiago

Interview with Joanie

I am sitting here A table across from Joanie, 96 years of life Packed into a neat package, Immaculate black pants And stylish red top, Hair coiffured, Nails done and rings on fingers. Across from her is Montana, MacFarlane that is, The student from Somerset, Not the state in the US; Although Joanie is not convinced.

For the fourth time, She insists to Montana That SHE is a place, Geography being her forte, And Montana gamely Hangs in there, Graciously smiling and answering the same questions over and over and over again; Throwing in the sly question to her subject, In the odd pause of Joanie’s relentless questions.

I now know, Having overheard

for the sixth time -

-

That Montana wants to be a psychologist, Not a doctor, And then perhaps a journalist, If psychology does not fit.

Each time Joanie asks the question, I understand that she had taken in just a bit more of the earlier conversation And knows just a bit more about psychology, Depression, anxiety, helping.

And I smile, As Montana is now talking about her future careers, aspirations,

The origins of her name, Now for the eighth time,

Let me correct that, For the ninth time...