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
Happy Easter “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning,...
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A Snowy Egret and Blue Heron One of the reasons we go to the Everglades, is to see the wildlife; birds like snowy egrets and blue herons. How delightful to look in the backyard, and see them both perched on what is left of the poor bitter orange tree.
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ The Poet’s Garden by Vincent Van Gogh Yes, as always, I am ready for summer! In New England we are having hit and miss weather, with still too much winter, for my...
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The End Will Lead To Once Upon a Time you can see that you are almost done the pages yet to be turned are dwindling away and soon it will be finished but you are not ready for the feast to end regardless of how well you have eaten you want more...
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Perhaps, it is I That Has Been Unclear Recently, my great-niece, Annaka, was standing in my living room, looking at The Tray, the piece which inspired my short story, by the same name. It was a find made by Kate, in Rochester, New Hampshire, at the Salvation Army. Annaka asked me what it...
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National Park Week I cannot say enough about the National Parks, in the United States – the system covers everything from historical homes to national seashores, and a visit to any one of the parks will both entertain and enlighten. This month you can visit a park for free! On April 20,...
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Bold Chickens, Plus One Honestly, I am not sure if this article should be posted under In the Wild! or Food; as these very bold and friendly chickens live at The Blonde Giraffe, Key Lime Pie Factory, in Tavernier, Florida, in the Keys. We took Lia to The Blonde Giraffe, because they...
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ Sinan the Jew and Haireddin Barbarossa by Artist unknown, believed to be Italian 16th Century I do not know if I would hang a print of this painting in my home, but...
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Game Night Cake “A Party without cake is just a meeting.” ~ Julia Child~ Cake matters! In the television show Friends, when one of the characters, Monica, meets her infant nephew, she promises him that she will always have gum. I share my great appreciation for that show with my niece, Beth, whose children...
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Happy Birthday Mother My plans for March 9th are to visit an orchid show, my Mother’s favorite flowers, which I love; and yes, eat fried chicken, that I do not so much care about, but that she loved. One of the things I decided a few years ago, was that instead of spending...
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