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
The Lost Bird Sculptures by Todd McGrain Sculptures Located in Audubon, Pennsylvania, the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, is a National Historic Landmark. An artist and naturalist, Audubon’s home is nestled in a park, with great walking trails where nature can be observed and enjoyed. Upon entering, the first...
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Art in the Garden I am constantly reminded that the things which I love, that feed my soul and imagination, are entirely intertwined, such as art in a garden. This garden is in Ogunquit, at the Museum of Art, offering breathtaking views of the ocean, as a backdrop. Among other...
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Amish Country Shoo Fly Cake 1 c. Grandma’s molasses 1 T. baking Soda 3 ½ c. boiling water 3 c. brown sugar 4 ½ c. flour ¾ Crisco oil or lard “Mix molasses, baking soda and boiling water and set aside till cool. Mix sugar, flour and Crisco well and set aside 1 c....
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ Florists by Gertrude Fisk I will admit he looks a little stern, but I would love to see her full face and perhaps have a chat with her – I was also...
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I Do Not Know Her Name! Do you have pictures like this? I met this woman, at the hotel we were staying, well more like a rooming house in Chelsea, where only female guest were permitted. She was on her way to India, if I recall, having settled a law suit, over...
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Notes From Mother – A Bible Study Regarding the Terminal Generation In going through my file of Mother’s letters, I found this Bible Study about the Terminal Generation that she had sent me, which seems rather apropos given the current events of our day. May you be blessed by her efforts. ...
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We’ll Always Have Paris “It was so nice to receive the note, from the Waldorf Astoria; it was a place where we spent so much time. Coming in from Baldwin, with Milton working on 5th Avenue and 48th Street, we would meet every Friday night at the Waldorf Astoria, after a cocktail, we would...
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My Venture into Sculpting I had always wanted to sculpt, and one day, with a few extra dollars in my bag, I was at Aaron Brothers, and bought a small piece of clay and a few tools, just for fun. I made this piece for my sister, Joy ...
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ The Dance Lesson by Edgar Degas Recently, we had the opportunity to introduce Degas to a student of the ballet; though not this particular painting, as it hangs in the...
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A Deer in the Backyard We know they are out there. We have seen deer in the forest, across the river, and on a few occasions caught a rushing glimpse, of a small heard running across the property, mostly too late at night, to photograph them. But last week, Kate suddenly looked...
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