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


Art

October 18, 2015

To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~  Detroit Industry by Diego Rivera   On my way to Detroit, anticipating seeing Detroit Industry, I started to think a lot about the artist, Diego Rivera, who created what turned out to be...
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Poet’s Corner

October 16, 2015

  Some Other Era Do you ever find yourself longing for a time you never knew?   Thinking fondly about some other era, wishing you had walked other streets and witnessed other vistas?   I do. There are moments, when some other story draws me away, from my own.   I ramble down an...
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From the Editor

October 16, 2015

A Portrait and a Moment With Its Subject     You know those moments when you unexpectedly find yourself experiencing something rather marvelous, and you want very much to have someone next to you, to nudge a bit, and share your wow? Well last year, while in Tallahassee, touring Florida’s Historical Capital Museum, I...
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Perfect Post Cards – Picture and a Thousand Words

October 15, 2015

Gatherings of Presidents   As the presidential election season is now in full force, I thought I would share some of my favorite cards, of Presidents gathering, most at each other’s libraries, which is where I purchased them – one of my most favorite activities – visiting Presidential sites. On July 19, 1990 Presidents...
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Favorite Books

October 12, 2015

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....
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Food

October 10, 2015

Pillsbury Doughnuts     When I was in 6th grade, my Mother introduced me to Pillsbury doughnuts. She was in charge of a fundraiser for Missionettes, which was the Assemblies of God’s equivalent of Girl Scouts. I believe we were raising money for camp. She had long spoken to me of the glory of...
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A View from the Road

October 6, 2015

Lucero Alcaraz, Treven Taylor Anspach, Rebecka Ann Cranes, Quinn Glen Cooper, Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, Lucas Eibel, Jason Dale Johnson, Lawrence Levine, and Sarena Dawn Moore     Yesterday, as I was driving home, I noticed the flag, in our little town, at half-staff; I looked at the seemingly idyllic setting, for the flag, and...
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In the Garden

October 5, 2015

Giant Pumpkins!     We had gone to a state park, near the house, to do a little leaf peaping – it was underwhelming – perhaps it is still too soon. However, as we headed home, I spotted what appeared to be a patch of giant pumpkins! “Do you want to go back?” Kate...
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In the Wild!

October 3, 2015

I Do Hope They Are Dairy Cows!     I was out trying to capture the autumn foliage, when I became enthralled with this very peaceful heard of cows. What I most enjoyed was their willingness to engage me. I felt like they were happy to pose, and be photographed.   Amazing eye contact!...
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From the Editor

October 1, 2015

Tying Up Loose Ends   I save too much stuff; but oddly I am rarely sorry that I have held on to something. Many years ago, in fact, last century, when my older sister was moving from a house, she had lived in for quite a while, I saw a huge mound of mostly...
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Art


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