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
Perhaps I Should Buy a Purple Bathing Suit? I am turning 50, which I can hardly believe. Aging is not fun, I do not yet hate my neck, (http://thatisallfornow.com/?p=3610) though I imagine that is coming, but I do hate that in the last few months glasses have become mandatory, if I want to order...
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This month you can take advantage of two free offers which everyone may enjoy. Unfortunately, they happen to fall on the same day; free admission to National Parks on September 24, 2011 and free admission to participating museums, courtesy of the Smithsonian Institute. If you are creative perhaps you can fit in a visit...
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Hosta’s at the Cleveland Zoo Until you are overcome with shade, I think Hosta’s cannot be fully appreciated. However, when you look at them in full bloom, their beauty becomes much more apparent. While walking around the zoo, in Cleveland, Ohio, I could not help but admire the shade garden’s which were...
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My Hurricane Tips A couple of things learned from experience: First of all, take your position in the cone of possibility seriously. If you are being told that you may be impacted by Hurricane Irene, prepare now. Fill your freezer with bottles of water. If you lose power, the extra ice will...
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I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron “Within hours of moving in, I was home. I was astonished. I was amazed. Most of all, I was mortified. I hadn’t been so mortified since the end of my second marriage, and a great many of the...
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The Derrick Floor Sculptor And Friends “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” ~ Daniel Burnham ~ Architect 1893, Chicago World’s Fair We were driving in New Mexico, overcome by the need for ice-cream; we pulled over in Artesia, where I had the most perfect caramel Sunday, ever...
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ Holiday on the Hudson by George Luks An American artist, George Luks, (1867-1933), was born in Pennsylvania, traveled in Europe, living in Germany, before eventually settling in New York City. He was part...
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Avocados! Stuffed Bagel Avocados have long been a favorite food of mine; they are delicious, nutritious, and versatile. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy avocados when they are fresh and in season, picked to ripen quickly. A native of Mexico, avocados have traveled the world, and are now grown in a wide...
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Majestic Gulls Larry feeds seventeen cats, squirrels, and seagulls– all who seem to know him. I came upon Larry just as he was about to feed a flock of gulls. The seagulls gathered around him, as did a black and white cat, whose tail had been lopped off, after having been attacked. I stopped...
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A View from the Backyard BeginStorm BeginStorm1 Click on link above to see video The news is on, an update on Tropical Storm Emily, which may visit South Florida over the weekend – then suddenly a familiar snap – and we are without power. It only last a few minutes,...
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