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
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 me know...
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Mary Tyler Moore “You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.” ~ Mary Tyler Moore ~ When I went to Minneapolis, I had one goal; I wanted to see this sculpture of Mary Tyler Moore! Today, we have sadly learned that Ms. Moore passed away, at 80....
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Lorikeet I do not do well with the notion of caged animals – any animal – be it man, a dog, or any beautiful creature that belongs in the wild. I think one of the reasons I enjoy feeding the wildlife, in my yard, is because they are free to roam,...
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I Stand with ISRAEL – Period! “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” ~ Matthew 10:32-33 ~ I have never felt more bullied and silenced, in my entire life, than I have over the...
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Chili Cheese Fritos! When I was in high school, in Delano, California, a new little eatery opened on Main Street. Our sophomore year, Sarah got her driver’s license, and we would occasionally leave school for lunch, and head to Main Street. This is a silly little recipe, but it really is quite...
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Mother, Mail, and Peter When I saw this letter recently, it surprised me in so many ways – it was not in my file of Peter’s letters, rather it was with my correspondence from my Mother. It was a letter I had written my Mother, while on my second trip to Europe...
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Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Site “Young African American men came to Tuskegee from all over the nation to train as military pilots. They began with primary flight training here at Tuskegee Institute’s Moton filed. Tuskegee Institute also has a smaller field, Kennedy Field, where some cadets received orientation flights in the Piper...
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Over the River and Through the Woods As I was making lunch, Kate walked into the kitchen and asked if I would like to go explore the woods, across the river, in our backyard. I instantly said yes, what a great idea; I then commented on the fact that I did...
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An Unfinished View Driving through Louisville Kentucky, I was forced to stop as this unique View From the Road, caught my attention. At first, I found it a bit comical, but then began thinking about the notion of a façade; and how so often the only thing which seems to matter, to us, is...
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ Snow Storm, Maine Coast by Antonio Mattei Okay, just the right amount of snow for my taste! Where is the man running off to? Is the small boat bringing the...
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