Mercedes, Important Character and Ear Cleaner

About a hundred and twenty years ago, Mercedes Pingol was born. She’s important in my book, “Boy of the Pearl,” as she was the mother of the main character, Ben. She was my grandmother, whom I had the honor of knowing from the time I was born.

I don’t remember Mercedes to be anything but short and round, her face framed with silvery-white pincurls. She and my grandfather came over to my family’s home a few times each month, driving over in their old, ivory-colored Dodge(?) to spend the entire day with us. She was a bit domineering, and that drove my parents bonkers sometimes, but I loved having her around. She always let me dab some of her corn and callous salicylic acid remover on non-existent callouses I claimed to have on my feet. (Now I have some for real.) She was a bright woman and a fabulous cook, owing to her Basque heritage. Her fingers were constantly flying with a crochet hook or knitting needles.

My least favorite Mercedes memories were of the times when she got it into her head that it was ear wax-cleaning time. That usually happened whenever all her grandchildren—my brother and I, and four boy cousins—were together. From the large, black tote bag she carried with her everywhere, Mercedes produced a silver widget shaped like a miniature spoon. My cousins and I were made to queue up. My boy cousins boasted they were fearless and fought for the first spots. I always took the last spot. One by one, she used the silver spoon to dredge the wax from our ears.

Hated it.

To Mercedes—Happy Birthday, and love to you always. And thanks for the clean ears.