Remembering a unique character: "Jilo" Reyes
Dear Friend: In most places, there are colorful people, people for whom life, in his walk, made them owners of a sugar singular, "Quixote" without armor facing giants, "Whistles Doe" wandering Michoacán geography, wise without wisdom obtain their diploma from the university of life, always dressed hesitant fumes and twinkling of alcohol.
One of those characters in my town had a name and surname, was real, lived, worked, suffered, started a family, life certainly rewarded him some pleasure, he forever changed by those provided by the ethyl fumes, and Finally, as we all paid tribute to our mother earth. Therefore
have in this small space, real identity, have physical description as I remember, and this serves as a reminder of some anecdotes about Don Gilda Reyes Murillo, better known as "Jilo" Reyes has no way intended to denigrate his memory, nor any of the people mentioned here, and tell him, as I knew him or those people told me they knew more of those delicious stories.
Gildardo was Don Reyes, a neighbor of my people, should see its first light back in the early twentieth century, I will relate to their memories would haunt and its good seventy years, and perhaps died in the early 70's of the century.
Better known as "Jilo" was a very graceful character does not physically according to the concept that Western culture has the beauty, had his face covered with scars from those left by the smallpox, a disease is considered eradicated fortunately, his own words:
- "I'm more ringing than the high mass" -
Her eyes were squinting, which in common parlance often called "crossed", his height was something like 1.65 meters, thin, wearing apparel very humble, and walking in a very peculiar one swinging arms forward and one backward, swaying the waist and flexing the legs when walking but keeping your head still, surely habit acquired by many years he worked as a baker, ie, as a baker, but of those old-bakers, who with his hands caressed the dough, cinnamon, yeast, eggs, water, milk, sugar, giving shape exquisite pieces of bread to take to "deliver" as much to various grocery stores, as well as housewives, in leafy "baskets" that are carried on the head like a giant hat that only those who have uploaded know they have to "balance" the body to avoid dislodging the bread.
wore, if not carrying the "basket", a straw hat flat wing, spoke very curious, with a melodic and rhythmic pace, the only amused to hear him speak, He describes a server to "Jilo" Reyes, you add as his work was at night, because he seemed awake and almost always means "sick" alipuses by a friend who invited him.
remember that I asked:
- "Jilo" What are the ugly ones die? - (Fashion was the song that says "Let them die the ugly"), to which he answered me;
- "Yes, they die, but that we may be one or two" - They also
once saw him go down the street Carranza his way home in a drunken state's highest "normal" as he walked with a visible lack of direction and the next day do it again in the same direction, but more measured in his walk, what a neighbor says - Wow "Jilo" that drunkenness wore yesterday! - to what "Jilo" replied:
- But if it (drunk) that you put me defectito? -
In the same vein, a friend questioned him about the damage one day that their health caused by eating so much alcohol:
- Hey Jilo, you should not take both, not once you injure the liver, kidneys and stomach? - And quickly Jilo replied:
- Do not worry, total, if the skirt fits me, no problem -
Almost most of the time, was very affable and noble, however, as all human beings, sometimes we have some clouds clouds the understanding.
On one such occasion, have arrived at the canteen of a man called Antonio, better known as "Toño the cinema" (because outside his bar charts were exhibited films) and entered in the hope Jilo Reyes invite someone to a drink, but none of the parishioners made him "the cabal", by bringing voice and glance at the audience says:
- "I suspect that pure asshole .... I "- which certainly was not amused a parishioner who stood up and gave him a slap to our friend Jilo, who went to find his humanity to the wooden floor of the establishment.
When he could stand up and was faced with whether that subject, he quickly says,
- "I think I suspected evil" - thus escaped a second beating.
In one of those rare occasions when he lost his sense of humor that characterized him, have to be addressed due to their house (which was located in a narrow alley, the street "Nile", also popularly called "The Alley Bakers ") and take the street from the Reformation, which is the entrance road to the said alley, our friend started screaming Jilo:
-" Chin .... his mother all living in this neighborhood "-
As I continued walking, again raise your voice:
- "Chin .... his mother all living in this neighborhood "-
Which came to the attention of a neighbor of Reform Street, a man" big ", age, respect, and size, called Don Irineo Salceda, who upon hearing comes to the door of his house, takes Jilo by the collar, lifts him up in the air and gives him a couple times they do get seated on the bench, after which Don Irineo going to retreat into his home .
Well, two or three days, the situation is repeated passes with his usual aggression Jilo the neighborhood: - "Chin .... his mother all living in this neighborhood "- Walk
ten twenty meters and repeats:
- "Chin .... his mother all living in this neighborhood "- is looming
When Don Irineo Salceda at the door, and Jilo Without wasting adds to their cry, their hands covering her with a possible attack:
-" Less Salceda Irineo Don "- which probably saved him from returning to find their bones on the sidewalk.
The above stories are the rare occasions when he lost his composure, and was always affable and witty, friendly, able to laugh at himself, which we should all do from time to time.
On another occasion he reached the shop of Mr. Arnulfo Amézcua, person respectful and serious, who sold something like notions, stationery, toys, repairing electrical appliances, in short, was a mixture of a bit of everything.
Jilo comes our friend and see some toy cars that Don Arnulfo was hanging on display and asks
- Nufo, how much worth the stroller fold? -
- Watch Jilo, worth eighty dollars, but take it in seventy and eight -
- What about this pistol? -
- This is worth twenty-five dollars -
- Okay, I'll take -
Then, Arnulfo Jilo delivery, as requested in a package tied carefully with "yarn"
- This way you Jilo, a hundred and three dollars - Jilo
puts his hand to his pocket and removed two notes of fifty-one to twenty, it is giving a "Nufo" and says
- Keep the change - Don Arnulfo
payment stared in disbelief, Jilo because he was paying bills toy, those that came in envelopes and cans of "Choco Milk", called "Panchólares"
- Wait Jilo, these tickets do not work, are toy -
- Ah, yes, I bit the pin ... cart and the pistol are also Not toy? -
say that Don Arnulfo picked up his package, he returned his money to Jilo, and his face always serious, there was a face that looked like a smile and open "drawer" of money, take some coins that gave Jilo - Take Jilo, run to take a drink -
In the main square, next to the market, there was a bar, (no women) a neighbor named Octavio, who now popularly known as "Tavio" there are some parishioners came together to bring tremendous, analytical and intelligent conversations, the kind that only the lure of alcohol tend to flow easily and allow us to solve all world problems .
Well, "In around a bar table, chatted cheerfully bohemian Jolly" when it comes Jilo hoping someone will invite some drink.
- tight Hey, do not you buy me a drink? -
- Watch Jilo, let me please bring gift shop David Fernández cheese for snack, and when I bring him, I invite the drink -
The aforementioned store, was located just a block from the bar, and was also attended by the owner, Mr. David Fernandez, an elderly gentleman and well respected, who always wore a vest and despite its years, kept the mood to deal with customers.
- Yes, I'll bring it -
They give two dollars (from before) and out Jilo to comply with the request.
- David, David, please give me a cheese -
- Okay, Jilo, here you go, Did you wrap it up or take it with you rolling? -
- So give it, I take it rolling -
Jilo pay, give the lead back and comes to cheese, comes back to the bar, delivers it, as the change, and "treatment is treatment," give good "ralladito" of liquor.
A little later, and warmth of spirit, ending with cheese and return to repeat the scene to instruct Jilo other cheese, with the usual reward for the return to order.
- David, David, please give me another cheese -
- Okay, Jilo, here it is, do you wrap it up or I'll have you rolling? -
- This wrap please me, because the another son of the chin cheese .... I struck out.
Another time, another character, Don Andrés Ruíz, also owns another grocery store that sold from sugar cube until sausage for "quarters", from oil to save, from cinnamon, quince brandy; sold well " Sapolin "which was the old enamel paint or oil, which stored in a reed boat type" ALCOHOL "five-gallon, and where with a broom handle, stirring occasionally to remain homogenized, ie , did not "cream" and which had in all colors as long as these were ocher, red, green dark blue. Don Andrés
knew the cunning of Jilo to mortify and bagged the nip, so that was always on the defensive when it came to his shop.
One day arrives early afternoon Jilo:
- Andrew, Andrew, please sell me one meter painting? -
Don Andres was wondering about the order and analyzing it would Jilo on this occasion:
- A Jilo meters? What color do you want? -
- I want the red - I was Don Andrés
to stir the pot of paint, while a sharp smile on his face, perhaps thinking
- now if I will I will pass, now I will mock him but I it -
Take the stick that stirred the paint, he approaches the old wooden counter, where he allegedly served notches measuring and re-ask the question:
- Nomas a meter, Jilo? -
- Well, please give me one and a half -
pulled the stick style with red paint requested, and starting at one end of the counter begins to drop on it a thin trickle of paint, same as ended to get the five feet requested by Jilo. Smiling now, if frankly, Don Andrés says:
- For Jilo Here is a weight of fifty cents -
- Well Andrew, me a favor and wrap it because I'm going to take - Nobody
I could say as he did to put him to Don Andrés Jilo his "mandate."
A pleasant and friendly reminder to Don Gilda Reyes Murillo, Purépero man of his time, flesh and blood, like you, like me.
