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
La Sacra Bibbia Ossia L’ANTICO E IL NUOVO TESTAMENTO My Mother loved finding new churches to visit and she loved learning languages! Going through the few books of hers, that I own, I opened this Bible, initially assuming it was in Spanish, until I took another look. This is a Bible she was given...
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Nor’easter I have been battling a cold, grateful it is not the flu; but last night I took two Cold-Tylenol’s; normally I am a pretty light sleeper, but when the fan went off and the alarm began to sound, I refused to open my eyes. It was 3:30 in the morning, and we...
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Elvis Statue Beale Street Memphis, Tennessee I too was “Walking in Memphis”, on a dark and gloomy day, when I happened upon this statue of Elvis Presley. I had been standing on Second and Beale Street, contemplating B.B. King, when Elvis drew me over for a visit. Like oh so many others,...
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“It Was so Fresh” The bright, red tomato, that I shared with you, In Nature, last month, was actually picked and eaten by my oldest great-niece, much to my delight! She had finished swimming with her father and siblings, when she came into the kitchen, ready for supper. I showed her the...
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As Fran Would Say – It is a Shanda First, let me state that this call to action is not about politics, it is about people. Regardless of ones position, on the Second Amendment and Gun Control, the Parkland Massacre appears to have been the most preventable school shooting, in our nation’s history. We...
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Recess I am not entirely certain that at the moment anyone has anything to say at least not something worth stopping to listening to thus I have turned the volume down on the world at large muted all the senseless clatter in favor of moving forward instead of standing still I do...
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The Pagoda City of Redding Somehow one does not exactly expect to see such a full size Pagoda in Redding, Pennsylvania; yet if you venture up to the Mount Penn Reserve, you will find this seven story building, which was built in 1908. The Pagoda, which is listed with National Registry of...
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We Garden for Hope Gardening can break your heart. Having to pull out the shell of a plant that did not grow or thrive, for whatever reason, can be a very sad experience; and when some unknown, unwanted, or uncontrollable element impacts your garden, and runs wild, well that can almost be...
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Sitting By My Bedside “One sure window into a person’s soul is his reading list.” ~ Mary B. W. Tabor ~ What are you reading? Are you looking for your next great read? Here is a look at what is sitting by my bedside, and which I am pleased to recommend. Let...
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President’s Day “Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.” ~ President George Washington ~ Our first President, General George Washington, was born on February 22, 1732; while Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is February 12, 1809. The two men have long been considered our finest presidents. Growing up,...
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