Thus a stone plaque the size of a postcard attached to the wall by the front door of my house. I had it made in Reading at the funeral home that took care of my parents’ remains. Perhaps this is the smallest tombstone they have ever made. I brought it to Motovun last December, just before the refurbishment of the house had started. It has three meanings in Veneto, the Venetian dialect. Ca’ is short for casa or “house.” However, casa also means “family” or “clan.” Together, the two words mean “good house.” The third meaning is closest to my heart at present. After some six weeks in Istria, I feel it is a good house indeed. Although it now bears my imprint, it still remains the house built by Jakub Samokovlić, known as Kuba. He died more than ten years ago, not long before he could retire to Motovun together with his wife, Ljiljana. I feel ever more fortunate to have kept the house essentially the same as it was when Kuba had finished it. Day by day, I feel closer to him. Soon we will become family.

Addendum (August 30, 2016)

When my mother died, I engaged a funeral home in Reading to first cremate her body, and then to scatter her ashes in their private garden. There was no funeral, and no grave. As well as no pomp of any kind. When my father died several months later, I engaged the same funeral home with the same instructions. A year later, I engaged it again to make the stone plaque for my house in Motovun. And this is why I sometimes think of the house as my parents’ tomb. The plaque thus serves as a tombstone for true. To my chagrin, Reading is rather far from Motovun. Otherwise, I would gladly engage the same funeral home to cremate my body after my death, and then to scatter my ashes in their private garden. One more time, there would be no funeral, and no grave. As well as no pomp whatsoever. It is a pity Reading is so far away, I now feel, for I often think of my house as my own tomb, as well. That is, the collective tomb of my branch of the Bon family. Be that as it may, the stone plaque gives me much comfort to this day. It brings us all under one roof.