Adriana Luna's Diary
In this section I will share several fragments of my mother's diary, which she wrote during her stay at the Dr. Alejandro Korn Psychiatric Hospital in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, with intermittent admissions between the period from October 28, 1995 to August 2005.
Dear children and Luis:
In this book I will evoke everything I feel in the Albina room, the recovery or rehabilitation room.
I will put everything I went through in this place.
Never say always
Never say anything
Never say words that compromise you
or
but
be the master of your silence and the slave of your words.
La Plata, October 28, 1995
P.M. 3:30
Entry #1
José María, a colleague from the room,
Albina taught me this prayer.
Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of the faithful,
and kindle in them
the fire of Your love.
Send forth Your Spirit
to give us new life.
And You will renew the face of the earth.
God, who enlightens the hearts
of the faithful, grant us to taste
all that is right, according to Your Spirit,
and to enjoy forever Your consolations.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
La Plata, November 3, 1995
Entry #3
Dear children and Luis:
Dear children and family:
I’m telling you that on Wednesday, December 13th, I had an end-of-year party, and it just so happened that Aunt Laura came, and Carlitos Maidana, the nurse, filmed us. We ate barbecue, sausage, blood sausage, and flan. And also Russian salad but without mayonnaise.
La Plata, December 16, 1995
I hope you are all doing well because Mom is going to be discharged soon.
Today I also went to a party, but not with much enthusiasm, although I helped a lot.
Without anything more to say, kisses to Dad, to you, my children. Kisses to Aunt Victoria, Aunt Lili, and Uncle Julio.
Kisses to Guadi and Sebi.
P.M. 9:00
Entry #10
Dear family:
I hope you are all in good health.
Today, summer begins.
Christmas Eve is almost here! It's the night when we wait for the Christ Child; that is, we remember Jesus as the savior from all injustices. This day is on December 24th.
La Plata, December 21, 1995
Entry #12
I’m writing from the Albina room, where you saw the little tree I planted, but it has already dried up.
I’m waiting for you to come pick me up soon, because I’m doing well; as Aunt Victoria said, she would come get me on December 24th, 1995.
Well, nothing more to say. Kisses and hugs.
A.M. 10:17
Dear sister Lili:
I hope that on this "rainy" day you are doing well, as are your children and your husband.
La Plata, December 22, 1995
Entry #13
I hope you can also come and pick me up and be there for you on Christmas Eve.
My sister, I love you very much, as does the whole family.
A.M. 9:00
Dear Luis and Children:
I hope you are all doing very well.
La Plata, December 22, 1995
Entry #14
I am in the company of a colleague from the Albina room who tells me this Christmas message:
"I'm with your mom waiting for Christmas. I wish you peace, love and happiness."
Guardian angel
my sweet company
do not abandon me
neither night nor day
until I rest
in the arms
of Jesus, Joseph and Mary.
A kiss, Estrella
Dear Family:
I am in room A with many colleagues. One of them is called Beatriz Venoso, there are also Griselda Nimo, Yolanda Andriola (the latter gave me this little verse).
La Plata, December 22, 1995
Entry #15
"My little Jesus,
you are a child like me
that is why I love you so much
and I give you my heart.
Take it, it is yours
mine, no. Take it!"
Now Beatriz is going to dictate to me the (10) commandments:
Love God above all things.
Do not take the Holy Name of God in vain.
Keep holy the Feasts.
Honor mother and father.
Do not kill.
Do not fornicate.
Do not steal.
Do not bear false witness or lie.
Do not covet another's property.
Do not desire your neighbor's wife.
Dear children:
I hope you are all well on this day, as is the whole family.
La Plata, December 23, 1995
Entry #16
Here I have a friend called Elvira Antonia Julia Niqueles, she sends these sweets.
Hugs and kisses.
P.S.: I'm in room A
Dear children:
My colleagues wish you many happy returns on this
Griselda Nimo and Adriana Nigro, to you children.
La Plata, December 24, 1995
Entry #17
Dear family:
I hope you are all doing well.
I'll tell you that today I went to the reopening of the hospital in the town of Melchor Romero.
There I saw the Minister of Health named Musi, the Vice Governor named Romá, the Mayor of La Plata named Alak and the director of the hospital named Melé.
I can't tell you more, I'll tell you more later.
La Plata, December 29, 1995
Entry #18
A.M. 10:20
Dear family:
I hope you are all doing well.
I can tell you that today I went to the reopening of the hospital in the town of Melchor Romero.
There I saw the Minister of Health called Musi, the Vice Governor called Romá, the Mayor of La Plata called Alak and the director of the hospital called Melé.
I can't tell you more, I'll tell you more later.
La Plata, January 4, 1996
Entry #19
A.M. 10:20
