2 December 1999
Jeffrey Luke's Brazil Diary
Curitiba, Brazil

I was putting black & white film into my camera,
Preparing to photograph heart surgery,
When she asked me if I like to read.
She said she likes to read and showed me a book.

I told her I was searching for Eternity.

We're walking around, it's very sunny and I'm wearing sunglasses. I feel so proud that I remembered to bring these from the states. My eyes are happy.

She takes me to see a zoo. There are monkeys. She hates looking at them, she says they're ugly.

I see a duck and reach into my pocket to get a Real (Brazilian currency) and hold it out for the duck.

The duck looks surprised, but Isabel is more confused.

"Pagar O Pato," I learned last week, is an expression that means "To pay the duck."

It means having to face the consequences for something bad that happened, whether it's your fault or not.

We walk more. I tell her I'm still looking for Eternity. It's a Calvin Klein fragrance for men.

It comes highly recommended from a friend in the states, who says it has the fresh smell of citrus.

Later Isabel makes a spaghetti dinner and passionfruit juice.
Looking out from her veranda, I tell her how nice the city lights look against the blue Curitibian sky.

*****

Three years have passed, and I have now found Eternity.

The word cologne does not accurately describe the contents of this bottle. Its citrus flavor does not sink into your skin; it wafts above it, dissipates into the air, and is welcome by all who pass by.

Like the sky that night in Curitiba.

Eternity --- Item #1232002-03 --- $48.00 US