Cristina Jill

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


Archived Post February 2008

February 4, 2008

February 2008 Does Failure Negate the Attempt? “Tis a lesson you should heed, Try, try again.  If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.  ~ W. E. Hickson ~ I started this article, several weeks back, writing: I voted for Rudy.  I was not sure until the moment I walked up to the...
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Archived Post January 2008

January 1, 2008

I Have Never Made a Chocolate Soufflé   “It is a sin not to do what one is capable of doing.” ~ Jose Marti ~ Traditionally, the concept of a new year brings the hope of change.  It is a time when we reflect on the past and look forward to what we would...
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Archived Post December 2007

December 3, 2007

Brown Paper Packages   Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things . . . Oscar Hammerstein II   One of our most beloved Christmas traditions is to watch The Sound of Music.  It...
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Archived Post November 2007

November 7, 2007

Road Trips   The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. ~ St. Augustine ~               I began life on the road.  My parents had left Cuba, for the last time, in April of 1961, shortly after Fidel Castro had declared that his revolution had become...
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Archived Post October 2007

October 7, 2007

October 2007 The Browning of America In the United States, September 15 – October 15, is considered Hispanic Heritage month.  I have to start, by wondering, if I am the only one who has an issue with thirty-one days, from two different months, being combined to create what is being called a month.  There...
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Archived Post September 2007

September 7, 2007

September 2007 Nine-Eleven     “Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend...
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Archived Post August 2007

August 1, 2007

Dinner with Nour           “Yes’m old friends is always best, ‘less you can catch a new one that’s fit to make an old one out of.” ~ Sarah Orne Jewett ~ Tonight we had a dinner party – this is not news, it is what we do.  After the party we walked our dog,...
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Archived Post July 2007

July 7, 2007

July 2007 Identity and Happiness To understand what propels us forward, we must first examine from where it is we have come There was an article in Time Magazine describing twenty things you need to do to be happy.  Among the list, was Identify with Your Heritage: Appreciating one’s culture creates and strengthens bonds...
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