Late Ripeness
“Not soon, as late as the approach of my ninetieth year,
I felt a door opening in me and I entered
the clarity of early morning.
One after another my former lives were departing,
like ships, together with their sorrow.
And the countries, cities, gardens, the bays of seas
assigned to my brush came closer,
ready now to be described better than they were before.
I was not separated from people,
grief and pity joined us.
We forget - I kept saying - that we are all children of the King.
For where we come from there is no division
into Yes and No, into is, was, and will be.
We were miserable, we used no more than a hundredth part
of the gift we received for our long journey.
Moments from yesterday and from centuries ago -
a sword blow, the painting of eyelashes before a mirror
of polished metal, a lethal musket shot, a caravel
staving its hull against a reef - they dwell in us,
waiting for a fulfillment.
I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard,
as are all men and women living at the same time,
whether they are aware of it or not.”
~ Czeslaw Milosz ~
My name is Cristina Jill Mosqueda Cooper. I pause looking at my name, and think about how much there is to explain with those words alone. My mother gave me a name to use in each of my worlds, Cristina for my Cuban life, and Jill for the American life. I suppose it is there were the paradoxes of my life began.
I have been many things in my life, from a housekeeper to a high school history teacher; but no matter what else I did, I was always a writer. I love words and the power and passion which they can be used to create. I love reading words, writing words, speaking words, and listening to words – especially words from people that I love and respect.
It is my desire to live life on my own terms, and willingly or not, I have paid the price demanded, by the world, to be myself. I share my life with Kate, with whom I have lived for the last 23 years, and Miss Merry Margaret, our little mutt who really is the world’s most perfect dog. I also travel, cook, garden, sculpt, and make large messes doing all of the above. Welcome to my world, that is all for now.
Web Site: http://ThatIsAllForNow.com
In general I am not an envious person, but I do so wish I could write something as beautiful as this story. I love this story. When I first read it, I identified with Buddy; now I feel a bit more empathy with the elder woman, time does have its ways. I miss being...
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Running Against the Wind by Bob Seger It seems like yesterday But it was long ago Janey was lovely she was the queen of my nights There in the darkness with the radio playing low And the secrets that we shared The mountains that we moved Caught like a wildfire out of control ‘Til...
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Smithsonian Free Museum Admission Day On Saturday, September 28, 2013 the Smithsonian Magazine is once again sponsoring a Free Museum Admission Day. Simply go to the link below to find a participating museum and print your ticket! http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/
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65 Books for 65 Years – Celebrating Israel Below is an article listing 65 Books which deal with Israel; it was complied by Stuart Schnee PR, at:http://stuartschnee.com/Wordpress/65-books-for-65-years-celebrating-israel-with-books-of-course/ I have not read them all, though I wish I had; but included are definitely several favorites of mine, like “O Jerusalem”, by Larry Collins and...
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