Memories

In the fall of 1994, when I was part of the restoration team of the Greek Catholic Church in Blaj, I and my friend went on a trip to the nearby forest. As I was walking, he hit a mound of leaves and twigs. When we had bent down to see what it was, we found the nest of a hibernating European hamster. It was no bigger than the bridge of my hand, tangled in a nest of fluff, straw, twigs, and leaves, asleep, his chest moving slowly and rhythmically. I put it back in place and covered it with the leaves I had mistakenly scattered. This memory from my studying years comes back so often and I see again the small and sweet creature crouched in its nest, continuing its normal life cycle, disturbed by our curiosity.