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


Holiday’s

May 12, 2019

Happy Mother’s Day     (The above photograph was taken at my sister, Joy’s church, Patmos, in Whittier, California.  Besides my Mother is me, then my sister Joy, her arms on her daughter’s Beth and Allison, and then Lisa, with her arm around her daughter, Maria. ) “Some are kissing mothers and some are...
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In the Wild!

May 10, 2019

Flamingos! But not In the Wild!     I would love to have seen this flock In the Wild, but alas, they live in the zoo, in South Carolina. In the past, I have written about my love hate relationship with zoos; I truly hate seeing animals in cages, but it is impossible to...
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Food

May 7, 2019

Crêpes   The first time I had crepes was in Paris. It was December, near Christmas, and it was a cool evening. There was a man, standing over a hot griddle that was powered by an open flame. He skillfully ladled batter over the griddle, spreading it with the back of the ladle, and...
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Art

May 4, 2019

To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~  The Races at Longchamp, 1866 by Edouard Manet In honor of the Kentucky Derby, this month, I offer you a look at racing in Paris; and wish you a patch of blue sky...
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Because I Can

May 1, 2019

    “Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons.” ~ Savannah Larsen ~ Going through my files of photographs, I found this picture, which I of course composed and took. It reminded me of a quote I had read the night before. “Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons.” ~ Savannah Larsen...
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From the Editor

May 1, 2019

The Holy Week That Was Not Photo Credit: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/how-did-the-notre-dame-cathedral-blaze-start/news-story/0047a8551efcbe8574ff958c5c641904 As a Christian, Easter is the most significant and sacred day on our calendar. My secular Easter activities are limited, some decorations and yes I do share a few treats and send out cards; but in general, what I look forward to are the services...
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Reflections

May 1, 2019

Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and the Heroism Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial By Ofra Friedland There are various days, around the world, which are set aside to remember the six million Jewish people who were murdered in the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, as designated by the United...
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Public Square

April 29, 2019

Marblehead Lighthouse     Apparently, my family once lived in Marblehead, Ohio, but all I have is a post office box number; thus instead of looking for bits of my past, Kate and I stopped to check out the lighthouse.               From Wikipedia: “Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead, Ohio,...
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A View from the Road

April 28, 2019

Cake Please!     I debated sharing this View from the Road for a while, but I do so love cake!
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The Dialogue

April 27, 2019

One of Her Bible’s     I have written, in the past, about how my Mother passed out her treasures, while her children could make use of them. The pieces that I own, which were my Mothers are honestly too treasured by me to be used, things like serving dishes and a cream and...
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Art


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