Different Flags by Eugenia Renskoff

Different Flags, a book by Eugenia Renskoff, tells the story of 26-year-old Ani. Ani leaves her comfortable but stifling life in San Francisco to travel to Argentina to comfort her widowed Aunt Esther. Once back in her native country, Ani must face her unexpected feelings of love for Padre Luis, her aunt's young and handsome parish priest. Different Flags is a study of Ani's inner conflict.

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Location: New York, New York, United States

I am a writer, translator and teacher of Spanish and English to foreign students. I have been writing since I was six. I love to express myself through words. I have also traveled widely.

Friday, March 31, 2006

Subject

January 9, 1985: Better get something else to talk about. The men thing bores me even more than the the English lessons to people who don´t want to learn the language.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Men!

January 7, 1985: I never knew there were jerks like this one that I ran into the other day! My sister used to tell me about her bad dates, but I guess experiencing things for yourself is it. No substitute for that at all.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Pass

January 5, 1985: Now I can talk about it, at least in my diary. Somebody made a pass at me, and not a good one. The guy was persistent, very, and I was afraid. Mybe it would be a trivial thing to a woman with more savvy, more experience of the world, but unfortunately, that´s not me yet.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

News

January 5, 1985: I don´t want to talk about it now. Later. It´s just too much for me to describe, for me to digest.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Want To

January 3, 1985: I do so want to belong!Maybe here, maybe there. Why is it that I still don´t know? What do I need?

Sunday, March 26, 2006

At Ease

January 2, 1985: It´s easier, at least so far. The hot weather helps my Tia and me be more hopeful, more upbeat. One thing I don´t miss about San Francisco (I miss everything else) is the grey weather. Not like that at all here.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Over

January 1, 1985: It´s over! 1984 wasn´t the best of years of my Tia and me. Maybe this new one will bring us some of what we want. It´s got to.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Old

December 30, 1984: I feel like an old lady, like I will never learn to be in, to be with it.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Do?

December 28, 1984: Do Luis? Because he´s a priest? Doesn´t the idea seem a little sordid?

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

See

December 28, 1984: Me go see Luis? Not on my life, not on his life! David and I are barely friends these days, but that doesn´t mean I want to see Luis again. Not even after David told me he thinks I should because I still love him. Have it out with the guy, he told me. Don´t think I´ll do that.

Enough

December 27, 1984: I´ve had enough of this situation. My own and my Tia´s.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Doña Teresa

December 26, 1984: Doña Teresa came to see us for an after Navidad chat. How we miss the old place in San Vicente!

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Sin

December 25, 1984: No sinful thoughts today. Nothing against the Church.Just hugs and kisses.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Laughter

December 24, 1984: I said something that struck her as being funny and my Tia laughed. So glad that after all this time, she looked happy, younger, if only for a moment or two.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Christmas

December 23, 1984: Navidad without our neighbors in San Vicente? How can will we stand it? They have families; we only have each other.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

People

December 22, 1984: When will I be coming back, my mother asked when she called today. I don´t know. No, I´m not staying on because of the priest. No need to dream about Luis anymore.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Easy?

December 21, 1984: Christmas is almost here, then New Year´s. My Tia and I want different things, but we want our lives to be the way we need them to be, not the way they are. A house for her to live in, no landlord trouble ever again. I want my life to be my own. To really belong to Ani and nobody else.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Late

December 20, 1984: Late. Late for everything. It´s like I can never catch up with other people, with myself.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

If

December 9, 1984: I need to give it time. Give myself time not to get scared at seeing Luis again.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Why now?

December 11, 1984: Why is it happening now? Why these changes I don´t understand?

Whatever

December 11, 1984: Why get hurt? Who needs it anymore?

Whatever

December 11, 1984: Whatever so I won´t get hurt. That´s the best way, the only way.I don´t want to be in turmoil over Luis, over anything, anymore.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Nightingale

December 10, 1984: I feel like Florence Nightingale taking care of her. But this is not a story or a movie, something that can have a happy ending. It´s our very real life.

New

December 9, 1984: Something new to worry about: my Tia had to go to the hospital in an ambulance. Doctor said her heart could get worse if she doesn´t stop worrying. Won´t our problems ever stop?

Friday, March 03, 2006

Wonder

December 8, 1984:What does it feel like? I mean, to actually make love with someone you really care about? I don´t want to do it with just anybody. Never did.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Call

December 6, 1984: He called and I was jumpy. I didn´t expect to hear Luis´s voice again. Why can´t I handle it better? >I don´t want to lose my self control, stumble over words.