Red Peppers

Your flesh is radiant in the mid-afternoon sun. Your lips are so vibrant, they remind me of a sweet red pepper ripened to perfection. I miss having you here beside me. I know that I messed up. Things have become so odd between us these last few years and I strayed. I’m sorry that I put you through so much. It was selfish but I needed something more.

If only I had tried to be around a little. If only I had not been lead astray. If only she had not reminded me of what we once had. If only . . .



Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

To see more, visit the Burrow's Prismatic Feature.

Ithaca Vineyard

As I walk through the vineyard, I can't help but be reminded of your green smoldering eyes caressing my body. Your touch is so exquisitely delicate and full of infinite passion. I daydream of the next time your arms are around me, crushing me in a warm embrace.

I hear voices in the distance; the moans increase to a crescendo.

"Marta . . ."

"John . . ."

Recognizing your voice, I quietly walk down the path and peer through the vines. Yours eyes meet mine; her eyes also.

I whisper . . . "How could you?"

I run through the green haze and collapse in despair.

To see more, visit the Burrow's Prismatic Feature.

I'm at The Burrow Today

 I am over at The Burrow.  The Who am I? Fridays gives the reader a little glimpse into The Burrower's lives.  The picture above and below give you an idea of my little story.  Happy reading!  Here is my Bronx Tale.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

My Blue Lagoon

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Blue Lagoon



Warm, invigorating waters caress me like a balmy autumn night. Rivulets of liquid beads glisten in the soft moonlight. Rocks loom in the distance like large silent soldiers. The horizontal crag is the only element separating blue Earth from blue sky.


Wading through the mist, I sense you just outside my consciousness. The remote roar of sea crashing against land in this eternal dance is captivating and deafening all at once.


In a frantic desperation, I quickly peruse the panoramic landscape, seeking your lovingly blue gaze. Land and sea may separate us, but for this one night, love is eternal.


To see more, visit for the Burrow's Prismatic Feature.

Bronx Stories: Tio Jorge

Tio Jorge (Uncle George). What can I say? He is that uncle in everyone's family who is unmarried with no children. He is that uncle with the stinky feet and you don't want to sit next to at family functions. He is the one who ends up watching the kids when there is no one else to babysit. He is the one who always lives with a sibling because he can't hold down an apartment. He was also the one who I watched cartoons with in the morning. He was also the one who walked me to school when I was younger as my mother was still adapting to her new medications.

Unfortunately, he was the one who drank too much and dabbled in too many drugs. Tio Jorge became involved in shooting up heroine and smoking crack. His heart was weak from all of the substance abuse and it was decided that he would need open heart surgery. He died on the operating table. My mother cried as she buried her baby brother. I cried as I selfishly mourned the fact that I would not be having a sweet sixteen. All the money that should have gone to ballgowns, limos and catering halls, went instead to two funerals (one here in NYC and the burial in Puerto Rico) plus airfare for every adult in the family. I was angry for a long time as I had worked so hard to be the good daughter and earn that sweet sixteen. Now I see how selfish I was and am ashamed of how much I let it get to me. I should have mourned my uncle who was actually not such a bad guy with the exception of the drugs and alcohol. I regret so much but how else was I to feel. I was cheated by death.

For several weeks we prayed saying the "Hail Mary" and "The Our Father" in Spanish in commemoration of my uncle's death and for safe passage of his soul to heaven. It was really difficult for me as I only speak conversational Spanish and not very well as it is entwined with street slang. We stood in a circle, with candles lit in the background, holding hands, chanting the prayer over and over and over again. It felt like we had been chanting this prayer for hours but in fact it was approximately thirty minutes. My father had stumbled over his words. My mother drew her arm back in a wide arc and slapped my father in the back of his head. It was so forceful that his glasses flew off of his face. My father simply picked up his glasses from the floor and began chanting again. Needless to say, whenever I was unsure of the correct words in Spanish, I remained silent and edged away from my grieving mother.

I wish I could tell Tio Jorge that I'm sorry and I miss watching cartoons with him in the afternoons. 

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tizian_009.jpg

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Girls in black dresses with red satin sashes
Ghoul that scare senseless, body that thrashes.
Brown leaves that stick to their shoes and they cling
These are a few of the scariest things.

When the wind bites,
And the ghosts glare
When I'm feeling scared
I simply grab onto my mother's right hand
Then frightening feelings I can withstand.

Trick or treat bags are filled with sweet candy
Garlic and crosses, come in quite handy
Pumpkins that glow in the dark, shining bright
There are things that go bump in the night.

When the wind bites,
And the ghosts glare
When I'm feeling scared
I simply grab onto my mother's right hand
Then frightening feelings I can withstand.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Random Saturday: Kids n' Things

Today, I helped my youngest daughter with her homework and realized that although she is a great decoder (able to read words), she has great difficulty with reading comprehension.  I bought her a second grade reading comprehension skills book.  She seems to get half of the questions correct.  I went over the problems she got wrong and she has a better understanding of what the question is actually asking.

I also got on my son's butt about a math project he should have completed yesterday in school.  Let me start from the beginning.  I went to parent-teachers afternoon conferences yesterday.  Fortunately for me, my son attends the very high school in which I teach.  Unfortuantely for him, he did not get rave reviews.  He is very intelligent, very creative but a bit of a slacker.  He waits until the very last minute to do projects and homework assignments.  So when I met with his teachers, it was the same comment over and over, "Your son has such great potential.  However, he fails to submit work."  Do you want to know the crazy thing?  He actually does the work but doesn't hand it in to his teachers.  So now I am micromanaging, which I hate to do but it's necessary for now.  No electronic devices for him until next report card in December.

My middle daughter is also in trouble.  She has become the social butterfly.  Last year she was in ARISTA honors society.  This year, she is getting barely above an 82 average.  Like really!  No electronics for her either.  I helped her to organize not only her room but her bookbag also.  We set up folders for each subject for handouts and whatnot plus put her notes in chronological order for studying.  What happens?  She couldn't find the folder with her work.  Her teacher is looking at me and I am looking at my daughter.  So now on Sundays, I do bookbag checks for my kids at home just like I do on Fridays for my students in study hall.

But not all is bad.  I go on a retreat with my school on Monday and Tuesday to determine how to move the school forward and decide on what are our "next steps."  Hubby is great and our relationship after ten years together and eight years married is wonderful.  Yes, there are ups and downs but for the most part, we are well.

I've been thinking of going back to school.  I need thirty credits above my master's to receive top pay as a teacher.  Not sure if I should major in Neuroscience: Developmental Disabilities or go for Educational Administration licensing to become an Assistant Principal.  Decisions, decisions. . .

Wordless Wednesday

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: Dan Reynolds, Chicken Hitting Eggs.

I saw this idea on Cruella Collett's blog, http://thegiraffabilityofdigressions.blogspot.com/ , and I loved it!

Random Saturday: Protecting Yourself

This week, I had a serious discussion with my students concerning sex and protection. Don't ask me how the topic came up. One minute, we were doing global history and chemisty homework; the next minute, we are discussing sex and sexually transmitted diseases.

One student began talking about his sexual exploits. He mentioned that he engaged in sexual intercourse in a park. Yes, I said park. Now I don't know about anyone here, but I feel that if your going to engage in sexual intercourse in public, it should be with someone whom you trust and have plans of a serious commitment.  I may be old fashioned, shoot me.  However, I had  to ask the student several follow-up questions. He didn't know the girl very well and they were not seriously involved with one another. He also mentioned that he did not use a condom. This may be typical of teenagers today, I don't know, but I seriously have a problem with casual unprotected sex.  

For those who don't know, I lost my younger brother in 2007 to AIDS.  He was only 21 years of age.  He was diagnosed at the age of 16 but did not reveal his health condition to the family until 18 years of age.  He had also contracted Hepatitis C for which there is also no cure.  I watched him physically, mentally and emotionally deteriorate for three years.  Finally in November 2006 his was admitted to the hospital and never came home.  It tore my family apart.  I still have so many regrets but that is another post altogether.
 
Anywho, I don't know how many times I reiterated, "Use a condom every single time you have sex.  It only takes one time, one moment.  It's like playing Russian Roulette with your health.  USE A CONDOM!"    I don't think they heard me.  So, my assistant principal came out of his office and said something which I thought to be quite profound. He told all of my students, "Assume that everyone has it and act accordingly.  Protect yourself from every single person you engage sexual intercourse with because you just never know."  Wow!!!  Just assume everyone has something!  Go figure!


Image: courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, "Coppia Di Amanti" by Arnold Bocklin, 1866.

The Trio at the Luncheon Boating Party- Part 3

Gustave: Gentleman in the Yellow Boating Hat (Bottom Right)

The water is glistening like silver beads of sunlight dancing at the height of each crest. I love the way the waves quietly lap against the wooden hull of the boat. It creates a sound so unerringly calm. One only needs to listen attentively to Mother Earth and she will soothe the soul. There is nothing more satisfying than a boating excursion. The salty, sea air cleanses the soul like nothing else can. This landscape of sea, land and air are awe-inspiring. I believe I have found my muse.

"I believe I will take a stroll alone along the riverbank."


Note: This was a wonderful project we did using a Renoir painting and telling the stories of various individuals in Luncheon of the Boating Party. My trio are the woman with the baseball cap (over to the right), the gentleman leaning over her and the gentleman wearing the yellow boating hat with ribbon. To see more, click here.