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 Chicken Did Cross the Road I was in Ybor City, outside of the State Park, when I spied this colorful and as it turns out fearless rooster. This is a wonderful park to visit, especially if you are interested in the history of Florida and her immigrants, mostly Cubans, who...
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The Chapel at the United States Naval Academy Here are a few of the pictures, which I took during my latest walk around the Academy http://thatisallfornow.com/?p=8152 The United States Naval Academy was founded in 1845; construction on the current Chapel began in 1904, with elements, like the stained glass of Christ walking on...
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ Shtetl Music and Klezmer at Night by Alexander Kanchick I am sorry that the quality of my photography is so terribly lacking, in capturing Mr. Kanchick’s work, as I find it truly...
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A Familiar Stranger When I was young, gathering around the television, to watch award shows, was an event. Yes, we would watch Miss America, as well as the Emmys and of course the Oscars, in fact not only would I have Oscar parties, one year, I even stood outside, for too many hours, to...
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Feeling Grateful Praise Report: Today I got on my bike! About eight weeks ago now, we came home from another extended trip where we had gotten second opinions, about Kate’s injuries, which assured us we were still in for a long journey. I thankfully decided to go shopping, on that Thursday – Market...
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Saturday, September 27! Unfortunately, once again, Smithsonian’s Free Museum Day falls on the same days as National Public Lands Day, which is celebrated, by the National Parks, by offering us free admission to all parks – thus you will either have to be very clever in your planning, to enjoy both a park and...
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Okra (Quimbombó) My Mother used to talk about an okra plant she had in Puerto Rico, which daily produced enough pods for her lunch; she loved it, as do I. There are numerous ways which I prepare okra, and I even eat it raw; however, one of my favorite recipes is a variation...
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To love a painting is to feel that this presence is… not an object but a voice. ~ Andre Malraux ~ Reading by Edouard Manet She looks rather uncomfortable, as her son reads to her; I wonder why? Art can never exist without naked beauty displaced. ~ William Blake ~...
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The Oscar Myer Wienermobile Okay, you have to admit, this is a pretty over-the-top View From the Road! We were driving south, about to enter the Fort McHenry Tunnel when we suddenly spied the Wiener Mobile! I could not believe it; and desperately wanted to photograph it before it disappeared...
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Are you wondering how to help? I was speaking with my dear friend Fran, regarding the very disturbing news in the Middle East; Fran mentioned that she and her late husband, Milton, always donated money to the Jewish Defense Fund, whose reputation was impeccable. The Jewish Defense Fund works to meet a wide...
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