Tag Archives: guilt

Car Crash Victim

Age: 72

Age: 19

Text
“It was 1987, in Secaucus, New Jersey, and I was driving home from work. A woman suddenly appeared in front of my car and I hit her. She was an older woman dressed in black. I called the police, and they took her to the hospital. I later found out through the obituary that she had passed away later on. I don’t believe it was from me hitting her, but her health declined after the accident. This is why I keep a plastic black flower in my car. I had nightmares from hitting her, though I know she knows I did not do it on purpose. Now, whenever I enter the car, even after getting a new one, I say hello to her.”

Context

The informant is the man’s grandson. He used to drive an hour to work each day.

Analysis

The man is giving a warning to the informant to watch the roads when driving. He has to live with the guilt that he contributed to someone’s death. The man now dedicates his rides to the woman he hit as an act of respect. He seemed extremely remorseful to the informant. The plastic flower refers to the woman who wore black. As grim as it seems, it serves as a great reminder to watch the roads because now he is haunted by his past car accident.

“Cuando Cuelgo Los Tenis”

Age: 20
Occupation: University Student
Language: Spanish

Informant Information:

Age: 20

Date of Performance: 2/15/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: University Student

Primary Language: Spanish

Residence: Los Angeles, California

Text: “Cuando cuelgo los tenis”

Translation: “When I hang my shoes”

Figurative Meaning: “When I die”

Context:

Whenever the informant’s mother was upset or disappointed with the informant’s behavior, she would use the Spanish phrase “Cuando cuelgo los tenis” (“When I hang my shoes”). The phrase was used hypothetically, implying that the mother’s death could be a consequence of the child’s actions.

Analysis:

This phrase is commonly used by parents in Mexican Spanish to evoke guilt or a sense of responsibility in their children. When a parent is upset or disappointed, they may use this expression to suggest that their child’s behavior is distressing enough to contribute to their eventual passing. This type of statement reflects a universal theme in parenting, where guilt is employed as a tool to encourage compliance and reinforce family values. While the threat of death is not meant to be taken literally, it emphasizes the importance of respect, familial bonds, and the physical and emotional impact of one’s actions on their loved ones.