No Matter What It Takes

 For the past four weeks I have been glued to the series of Outlander. A few days ago the Netflix showing of the show ended after three seasons. Netflix would no longer feature the show.  I googled the information to find out how the show actually ends. To my surprise I found out that there were quite a few more episodes but they were only showing on Starz. In order to get to Starz I had to sign up for Hulu and they charge a monthly fee. As I sat looking at the screen and trying to decide whether the end of Outlander was important enough to pay extra, a blurb came up letting me know that I could try out Hulu for a month free. Maybe I could see my show through Hulu. Once I was signed up for Hulu another blurb came up letting me know I could have Starz for a week and it made me wonder if that was enough time to watch the rest of Outlander. If not, then the monthly fee for Starz was around $9.00 and I figured I could pay the fee to see all of the episodes. After all, I do not pay for Netflix because the fee is usually paid by my family in California because they know I enjoy watching movies!

I have been binging to try to see all the episodes before next Tuesday when the free time ends. Today I saw the final episode of the love story of two people. It was amazing that the characters never aged, other that having a bit of grey in their hair. From Scotland to the Colonies the horrific and dramatic scenes kept my interest. It ends with the two main characters, Jamie Frasier and Claire, his wife, naked in bed in a loving embrace and thinking that they now will have the Revolutionary War in their future! I suppose Diana Gabaldon, the author, can continue the saga!

Each episode was filled with so much action on land and at sea that after the show was over, I could not find another movie to watch. Every show I thought I wanted to see I found to be dull and boring without the exciting scenes I had become accustomed to in Outlander!

"'Ye werena the first lass

I kissed', he said softy,

'but I swear you'll be the last.'"

Jamie Fraser (Outlander)

Four Years Ago

 Four years ago, my heart was torn out of my body. Yanked with no mercy, leaving an ache that hurt a lot and left an empty spot. There is no way a  person can live without a heart. Yet, I continued to live knowing that my son was gone and I would never see or talk to him again. My heart slowly returned, and if I could see it, I am sure it would look like a shattered mirror.

Was it fair that someone so young should be ripped from this world leaving nothing but pain and emptiness? My son, fifty-three years old, had died way before his time. Shouldn't a parent go first before losing a child? Could his parting have been prevented? 

There was no chance to say good-bye. No time for a final farewell. The only consolation I feel are the words the priest said, "His mission on this earth has been completed."  Mission or no mission, his life from this earth has been deleted but I will not allow his life to be erased because I will keep his memory alive. I know that as long as someone dwells in your heart, that person is still alive! Photos and memories help keep my son alive for me.

No matter that it was such a blow, I have to accept that he had to go, leaving only memories to fill an empty hole. Good-bye my son, although four years have passed my pain continues to last and yet, knowing that you are in heaven now, helps to somehow, ease the pain.

Four Years Ago

Each Day

the emptiness

in my heart

rests quietly

until a memory

springs forward

and it is as the 

day I lost my son.

Remembering

 when my son died,

I wonder, will the pain 

of that loss

ever subside?

E. Moscoso

October 26, 2020

Musica Mexicana

A message came up on Facebook about a program called Canciones Mexicanas that every Sunday at nine in the morning plays Mexican music. I missed last Sunday that featured New Mexican type songs, but this Sunday, October 18, 2020, I decided to listen to the segment with Boleros (romantic songs) by different artists. It had been about sixty years that I had listened to this type of music since my taste of music had gone in different directions.

The first thing I had to do was to find the station KUVO, 89.3 FM on a boombox I have had for years. It took me almost an hour of pushing and pressing buttons, listening to lots of static, until I finally
located the station. What ever happened to a radio having a dial to turn until a wanted station was found!  Finding the elusive FM station was a chore because no matter what I did, I could not get off the AM frequency. It wasn't until I gave up and went to turn off the radio that realized that the off button also switched from AM to FM.

At nine o'clock, a woman by the name of Yolanda began the program. Little did I know that the next hour would be filled with nostalgia and sweet memories of my youth! I listened to corridos, waltzes, polkas and those slow-dancing romantic tunes. Before long I was up and dancing to some of the music. with my invisible partner! I heard Pedro Infante, Lola Beltran, Jorge Negrete, Lucha Villa, Javier Solis, Lydia Mendoza plus others. My heart reacted to the songs with lots of love, joy and happiness. 

The men famous for singing Rancheras are Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, and Javier Solis. I had to laugh when the announcer said that to her, the three looked alike. After the show was over, I got on the Internet and brought up the three singers. They all have dark eyes, black hair and moustache so in a way, they DO look similar. All three have wonderful voices. I identify more with Jorge Negrete because as a little girl my parents would take me to Mexican movies and many featured Jorge Negrete. I would fantasize Jorge coming on his white horse to take me away and we would live happily ever after! I guess I was not the only one to fall in love with him because his quote of "¿Pero es que no hay hombres en Espana?" was said because it would be mostly women who attended his concerts! 

While on a vacation to Cancun, I was thrilled to see a poster of my idol!

I was happy that I had tuned in to Canciones Mexicanes on KUVO because it made my Sunday morning begin by getting me into a wonderful mood with the beautiful music. It does not matter how long one stays away from music of the past because when it is heard again, all those great and exciting emotions resurface!

"Music touches us

emotionally, where

words alone can't."

Johnny Depp

Beautiful Sunset Clouds

 Colorado is having forest fires in the mountains and the largest one is the Cameron Peak fire. It is west of Ft. Collins and near Estes Park. It is the largest fire in Colorado's history burning over 173,536 acres! The pictures from the local news Stations are alarming as roiling smoke seems to cover the whole area. The night pictures are even more frightening to see the red fire appearing in large areas. Fire fighters from many states are arriving to fight the fire which is still not contained. I live in Arvada and we have been warned to stay indoors due to the smoke and how dangerous breathing the smoke can be if one suffers from upper respiratory conditions. In Spanish we have a saying that no matter how bad something is, there is always some good that comes from it. (No ay un mal que por bien no venga!) I agree with the saying because on or about October 13, 2020, I went out to get my mail and was astounded by the clouds in the sky. The whole sky was beautiful!

"When I admire the wonders

of a sunset or the beauty of the moon,

my soul expands in the worship

of the creator."

Mahatma Gandhi

The colorful clouds appeared because of the smoke from the forest fires. On Friday, October 16, 2020, the light in my house had an orange tinge so I opened the door and there was another outstanding sky!

Amidst the horrible fires, the evacuations, the destruction, and lives lost there is some thing that makes us feel better. I suppose it's God's way of letting us know not to give up hope and wait for a better day!

"Due to climate change,

wildfires are growing in

size, frequency and intensity,

and wild fire seasons are 

becoming longer."

Mikie Sherrill

Alebrije

 When I first saw word Alebrije I had no idea what it meant or from what country it had originated. In parenthesis was written how to pronounce it. Ah-le-bree-heh and it is a Mexican form of art using paper maché. Later, the art form was made of wood and the pieces are not cheap! I have seen this type of art in museums, Botanic Gardens, Airport, Chatfield Farms and now in Thornton. I love the colorful, silly looking animals!

When a friend mentioned that the artist, Oscar Becerra-Mora, would have a display at the Any Think Library in Thornton, I decided to go see the art work called Dios Perro.  

The colorful work of art stands almost fifteen feet tall and weighs 140 pounds. On the Internet I found more information about the meaning of Dios Perro (God Dog). "Depicts the Aztec Diety Xólotl, the brother of Quetzalcóatl, charged with guarding the sun as it passed through the underworld."

Also from the Internet I learned that the artist that came up with the idea of the mythical animals was Pedro Linares. While he was ill, he dreamt of weird mystical creatures yelling "alebrije" and once he recuperated he recreated the beasts and called the art form alebrije.

Walking through the almost empty library, I saw a Day of the Dead Altar, and realized the Mexican tradition was being presented for people to see and learn. I think that because of the movie, Coco, more people are now aware of the Celebration of Day of the Dead.

As I was leaving the library I noticed that the entrance had rows and rows of colorful paper called "Papel Picado." The tissue paper has different designs and is used for holidays, decorating, celebrations and for Day of the Dead altars. It is also a beautiful way to liven up walls or doorways.

 

 "Dia de los Muertos is about

never forgetting those who

came before us."

From Coco movie.

Two Days In One

 Waking up this morning, I was ready to begin Monday morning doing the list of chores. Post Office, Bank, Grocery Shopping, Return an Item to Costco, Get Gas, Laundry and what ever else needed to be done. Before getting up on Monday morning, I thought about everything that I would do now that the weekend was over. Out of my pajamas, into the shower, eating breakfast and I was ready to go! Since the Pandemic I find the weekends to be long and I hate to say it, but boring.

"Better three hours too soon,

than a minute too late"

Shakespeare

I got on the computer and sent a message to my friends on Messenger -- Good morning my friends on this beautiful Monday morning!" The date on the screen came up as eleven. I looked at the calendar and it should have been the twelfth. What was wrong? Could the computer have screwed up? When it hit me that it was Sunday and not Monday I felt frustrated. All my plans were for naught because I had wrongfully thought it was Monday and here it was, Sunday. Maybe because I had virtually attended mass on Saturday my brain told me it was Sunday.

Sunday is a day of rest so some of my chores I would not do and the twelfth was Columbus Day or Indigenous Day so some of what I had planned for Monday I still would not be able to do! Sunday seemed to go on forever. I texted family, I spoke on the phone to some friends, and I watched Netflix. I found myself eating more than usual and even opened a chocolate bar that had been in my freezer for about a year. The wind gave the day an even sadder and depressing mood. I took a nap and when I got up I decided to make a pizza. I felt as if Sunday had been split into two days. My morning and now my afternoon really made me feel as if the one day was two days!

"Yesterday is gone.

Tomorrow has not come.

We have only today.

Let us begin."

Mother Teresa

Today I still can't do much because banks are closed, but I will do laundry and go grocery shopping. A friend called because I had a book for her and we met near a McDonald's and I gave her the book. I headed to King Soopers to buy some fruit and would save the rest on my list for tomorrow, which should be Tuesday, I think!

"Time is long,

but life is short."

Stevie Wonder

An Organic Surprise

 I do most of my shopping at King Soopers and never buy Organic stuff because it costs more than the regular food. For the past three months I have tried to find bagged oranges and no one seems to carry them anymore. Target, Costco, Walmart, Sprouts, Safeway and King Soopers seem to be out of oranges in bags. I decided to look at the oranges in the Organic section of the store and put four oranges in a plastic bag. I do not remember what I paid for them, but I needed oranges, so the Organic ones would have to work.

Oranges I have purchased usually feel hard, but the organic oranges felt soft and I figured that they might grow the bluish, whitish, greenish mold before I could eat them. I cut one in quarters, and found it to be sweet, juicy and the smell was like I remembered an orange should smell.  It had that sweet citrus smell and I liked it! There was so much juice in each piece it felt as if I was drinking a small a glass of juice. I like to suck the juice from each piece, bite the orangey meat, and leaving just the empty skin. I do have to eat my orange pieces over the sink or I would have a sticky mess down my chin and on my clothes! Some oranges I have purchased are hard, have little juice and there is no smell. I realize that the Organic oranges are the best. Reminded me of when I was in California and I could just pick an orange off of a tree and eat it.

"Missouri Ann ate her bit of orange slowly,

'Tastes like summer,' she said."

Sandra Dallas

Four days later, I had eaten the four oranges. Each orange had been delicious with that tangy orangey smell. Boy, did I learn something! Organic oranges brought memories of  how an orange should smell and taste! They were so good that I did not mind finding seeds and seeing how the skin was extra thin leaving more room for the meat of the orange! Not like oranges with dry meat, no seeds and little juice!

Today, Monday October 12, 2020, I again went to King Soopers to buy some more of the Organic oranges. This time I paid more attention as to the price and shocked when I saw that I was paying $8.45 for five oranges! I now have to decide if it is more important to have a delicious orange or buy the not so delicious oranges! I am not going to worry about it today, but in a week when the Organic oranges I bought today are gone, I will have to make a decision!

To improve your zest for life,

fill it with Vitamin C's --

Courage, Cheerfulness,

Confidence and Creativity."

Internet - When Earth Speaks

Grasshoppers On My Front Porch

Every time I see grasshoppers, I think about how their purpose in life is to hop around. My thoughts stem from the story of the ant and the grasshopper.  One works hard and prepares for winter while one lives for the day! Yesterday was a perfect day with lots of sun and a blue sky so I decided to sit outside and get some Vitamin D.  As I stepped outside I did not notice that I had stepped on a huge grasshopper. It must have been right at the entrance but I did not see it until I sat down and saw the squashed ugly body! It was huge, about two inches long and I was glad I did not see it because I never would have killed it for fear it might attack me! It probably would have scared me if it had jumped toward me. I figured I had probably stepped on it as I struggled getting the chair outside. 

Sitting under the warmth of the sun I noticed one grasshopper jumping around. It did not seem to have any rhyme or reason, just happily jumping from walk to grass and then to the dirt and ending up on the cement driveway. What goes on in a grasshopper's head, I wondered. I saw one clinging to my Road Kill Cactus and wondered if the needles hurt the grasshopper. As I sat enjoying the beautiful weather, I saw a grasshopper sauntering along without a care in the world. I watched it as it tried to jump on to the garage door. Maybe the color had attracted it to the door. It continued its stroll until it arrived at a cement wall. Its attempt to climb up the wall were unsuccessful and it used its wings to fly up and land on the porch. I lost sight of it until it was getting so hot that I decided to go back inside. There was the grasshopper about four feet off the ground and on the wall. Where in the heck was it going, I wondered.

I do know that grasshoppers are plant eaters, they can fly short distances, and they have large, bulging eyes. I have never cared for grasshoppers because I have been in fields where they do not discriminate when they jump and I have had to slap them off of me! I read where Japan and Mexico eat them and I think that is gross.

Once in my house, I was glad that the three grasshoppers stayed outside doing what ever they do!

"If a grasshopper tries to fight

with a lawn mower, one may

admire his courage but

not his judgement."

Robert A. Heinlein

God Watches Over Us

 The day after the Presidential Debates, on September 23, 2020, I was feeling sad and bummed out after listening to the ridiculous, childish and rude interruptions that had gone on by the debaters. I was in no mood to do much on Wednesday, though I did read and listen to the many comments regarding the debate. I was not the only one feeling upset about the debate, many comments on Facebook and the news let me know that people were upset. One headline on the Internet was: "The Worst Debate In The History of the United States."

Around six-thirty I went out to pick up my mail and was amazed at the colorful clouds in the sky. The clouds were not over the western sky but right above my head and covering the whole sky. I picked up my mail and returned to the house to get my camera. I snapped about five shots of the beautiful sky. Somehow, I knew that God was showing me something to make me feel better. A peacefulness entered my body and the feelings of unhappiness disappeared. The colored sky made me realize that no matter how bad life seems to be, God will always let me know He is around to help me through my moments of sadness!

"The sky speaks in a thousand colors."

S.R. Abbasi