Damián Birbrier

Siestas

I come from Latin America, a place where naps are sacred and a very common activity done around the sixth hour of the day. It’s because of that we call it siesta. I remember my grandfather after lunch, going directly from the table, laying on the couch, never missing a day to rest for about fifteen minutes before going back to his little woodshop. When you are little and full of energy, it’s hard to understand why you would sleep in the middle of the day. But at that time I never needed to wake up with the sunrise. Peeking from the yard, I used to watch him sleep on that paisley patterned couch. It was possible to see it through the entry door. Always guessing his reasons for sleeping at noon: was it because he was from another time? Was it because of his beliefs? Or because of tiredness? Now I know that more than answering any of those questions, napping was one of a statement, a means to maintain control over his life, and to set the speed and quality of his labour.