El tíovivo de la vida

Cuando aún celebrábamos la alegría de la boda de mi hija, mi marido murió de repente. Ojalá pudiese expresar con palabras toda la soledad y la tristeza que se han instalado en mi vida desde entonces.

En su memoria quiero poner aquí lo que un buen amigo escribió sobre él para su blog.

Vaya como homenaje y como confesión abierta y pública de lo mucho que lo añoro.


GOODBYE TO A MOST BELOVED FRIEND

Six years ago, I met Patricio at the Navarra Agronomic Research Institute, a leading research center in the north of Spain. I was looking to learn about new hibrid artichoke varieties for our South American and Chinese fields. All related to our artichoke company. So there he was, in his late sixties but still working as a young kid. He showed me his incredible work and we became good friends.

I had the chance to travel with Patricio to China, where he helped us teaching growers how to plant artichokes. I learned during these trips that Patricio lived several years in Togo when he was younger. He worked in agricultural development in a project that he called "my son" as he started it from the ground. He loved all related to "capsicum" (peppers) and kept travelling to Burkina and Togo till recent months. His strenghts were his energy, his commitment, his humanity and his hapiness for simple things like having a glass of scotch with friends after a tough working day.

Javier and I saw Patricio for the last time few months ago in Logroño, his home town in the north of Spain. He introduced us to La Salle and their agricultural project in Burkina Faso, Clima, which Patricio called his grandson. And he was excited to help us on cashews in West Africa. Since then he kept giving us his wise advise and good directions to follow.

Patricio passed away on October 23rd. His teachings will remain in our hearts and we'll spread out his energy and love for Africa as well as we can.