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
Steel Wheel Kustoms & Autobody Repeatedly, as we prepare for the holidays, this year, Kate has commented on how nice it is to be able to participate again, in the festivities. Tonight, we decided to buy a Christmas tree. When we arrived, at the store, we instantly found a beautiful tree, but not an...
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The Turkeys Are Back and in Flight Almost as if on cue, the day after Thanksgiving (American), the turkeys have returned! We have missed them throughout the autumn, wondering where they were; quite obviously, they were hiding. It is nice to see them busily pecking away, looking for a bite...
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Why It Is Called Beaver Dam We are often accused of not helping out the economy because we are great do it yourself types. Well, we did try to hire someone, to pick-up the overabundance of autumn leaves that we had raked; to no avail. He spent hours, accomplishing little, other...
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Julia Child’s Kitchen Bon Appetit! Americans will be spending a great deal time this week, in the kitchen and sitting around the table enjoying our Thanksgiving dinner. Thus, I thought you might enjoy a peek, at what has to be one of the most famous American kitchens, of all time...
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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....
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My Mexican Hot Chocolate – Atole I have many fond memories of Mexican hot chocolate and atole. The first time I drank it was in Chihuahua, Mexico. We were on a road trip, of sorts. My Father had a string of revival meetings in Mexico, he was traveling with his worship leader,...
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One Hundred Years Since the War to End All Wars Began Armistice Day As the European nations, which fought in the Great War, begin to mark the one hundredth anniversary, of the start of this tragic conflict, stopping to honor their dead; we in the United States, remember all Veterans who have honorably and...
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Where Were You When the Wall Finally Came Tumbling Down? “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.” ~ President Ronald Regan ~ Do you remember where you were twenty-five years ago, when the Berlin Wall began to crumble? I do. I was living on Ocean Boulevard, in Long Beach California, and was most assuredly...
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Plymouth Rock ~M~ As the United States gets ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I offer you A View From the Road, of Plymouth Rock. I have previously written about my first trip there, as a child, and having taken two of my oldest nieces, along with a return trip for my...
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Blank Page I come to the blank page Kicking and screaming Terrified I have nothing left to say Or that what I have to say Will mean nothing to you Yet I come I have to I grab the spiral notebook Worn down by being Lugged around From place to place And I...
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