Category: Uncategorized

Oggi

~ TiffanyCreek ~ Leave a comment

Time is flying.  It is already ‘Oggi’.  Today!  Tomorrow will be “Domani’.  Oggi é giovedì, domani, venerdì.

Oggi sono andata in Testaccio.  Today I walked in Testaccio, visiting places I’ve never been, and others I know, from before. I have walked through a few neighborhoods in Rome, and Testaccio, in my mind is, most authentically Italian.  A working class place in its origin, it is the home of a huge slaughterhouse, being gentrified, to some extent.  For example, there is a museum there, that wouldn’t be open for awhile.  The buildings of ‘Il Mattatoio’ are huge and cover a large area of land on the fringe of the neighborhood.

The first place I stopped today was the Porta San Paolo.  This structure sits on the edge of a roundabout called Ostiense.  It looks like a little castle and served as the gateway through the 3rd century Aurelian wall.  I am guessing that Aurelian comes from Aurelius, as in Marcus, or better known as Emperor Caracalla, the terrible, who built the baths of Caracalla.  It is the home to the small free Museo di via Ostiense.  A cool little place where you can walk up to the upper story open air bridge and peer out at the busy street below through the crenelations.  There is a huge map inside indicating the roads of  Rome.  Since I was so engrossed in the building itself I did not study the map, but will do so on another occasion.  When I first got to the museum I was at one of the gates and met a couple from the Czech Republic.  We were all confused about how to get in from the inside but we figured it out together.  Three heads are better than one.

After the Porta, I continued down Via Marmorata and took a left onto Via Caio Cestio, (named for a magistrate) so I could stop at my favorite place, the Cimitero Acattolico, sometimes called the Cimitero protestante (a misnomer*, according to Marlena, my Italian teacher)  I had told the Czech Rep. couple about this place and said they must go.  They followed my advice and got there before me.  At the cemetery we had a nice conversation and got to know each other a little.  Susana had orangish red hair and steely blue eyes.  She was missing her toddler she left home with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple days.  John (in English) was a policemen back in a small city in Moravia, where they live. They let me take their picture.  I took three.  They even kissed each other, in one of them. I gave them my email so they could write to me to send a picture back.  I hope they do.

After taking my usual stroll around the Non Catholic Cemetery, behind the great Pyramid for Caio Cestio, I departed and took a left down Via Caio Cestio, for a change.  I usually take a right.  I went to the end and found a familiar place I had seen while taking a city bus that I told myself at the time, I wanted to visit.  It’s neat to come across a familiar landmark, on an unfamiliar walk.  For awhile you’re lost and then you realize where you are.  The place I happened upon is sacred.  It is called the Rome War Cemetery, or the Cimitero Britanico.  Here are buried the British solders that lost their lives between 1939 and 1945, in WWII.  It is more than emotive.  There is a plaque at the cemetery that tells the story of the role of the British in Italy.  Inside a good sized rotunda, at the entry, there is a saying about how the English fought for the Freedom of Italy to preserve the Ancient Friendship they have always shared.   I was so impressed by this small place.  Did I take pictures?  Of course!

After the military cemetery, I meandered down a busy street, which I can’t find on the map at this moment.  A couple blocks, I happened upon another place of historic importance called Monte Testaccio.  It gets 2 stars in my Frommer’s “Rome Day by Day” book.  It was closed, but seems to be a place to go back to.  It is the sight of ancient Rome’s ‘remarkable creations the “Monte dei Cocci”, (hill of shards).  According to Frommer’s, the hill, 100 feet high is made entirely of broken amphorei, or in other words, tall slender vessels used to transport oil and wine.  They were discarded there over the centuries of importations.  A kind of landfill, if you will.  Apparently you have to call a number to get inside the gates.

In general, Italy is a country of contrasts.   They love their cuts of meats, their sausages, prosciutto, salami.  Not common in the United States,  a huge truck stopped at the local butcher and meat stand and men were unloading carcasses of parts of animals, bigger than themselves. (Sorry vegetarians).  Lined on these same streets are boutique stores specializing in whole foods where all the labels look the same and it’s hard to figure out exactly what’s for sale.  The prices are usually triple what is found at my favorite little  corner verdura and fruit stand.

Eventually I ended back up at the Piazza Testaccio and closer to Via Marmorata.  Did some shopping before I headed back to the apartment around 2 o’clock.  As they say, the rest is history.  Not sure if that saying fits here.  You get the idea.

* Marlena is roman and very knowledgable of her culture and language, so I trust there is reason for her correction, though we did not get into any details.  The word protestant is attached to this place on Google and in my Frommer Guide Book of Rome in a Day.

 

 

 

What goes around, comes around…

~ TiffanyCreek ~ Leave a comment

This year for Christmas, my daughter gave me a book called “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s about creativity.

With this book in mind, a revelation was bestowed upon me today, when I looked back to a journal I received  from my friend Isabel, about 3 years ago.  Lo and behold, on the first page, of the journal, I had jotted down the title, “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have no recollection of doing so. Yet, because of my daughter’s insight to gift me this book, the generosity of ‘mi amiga’, Isabel, and my compulsion to write things down, the past and present merged in meaningful connections between things, and important people in my life.  It reminded me that what goes around comes around, and whatever else matters keeps blowing in the wind.

This experience eroded my healthy skeptical tendencies.  For a second, I almost have to believe Elizabeth when she says, ‘creativity is magic, and ideas float around in the air waiting to be snatched up by innovative people’.  I’m almost done reading “Big Magic” now, and might add, have been pleasantly enlightened in the process.  I do recommend Elizabeth’s book.  She encourages you to pursue ALL creative endeavors.  With that said, as an artist it is a challenge to convey the feeling of surprise, and that aha! moment, we are fortunate to have.  It may be irrelevant whether or not others feel the sense of awe I wanted to convey .  What is relevant however, is I tried.

Open for Trick or Treaters

~ TiffanyCreek ~ Leave a comment

For me, Halloween is a special celebration. My son was born on the 24th of October, 1989. I remember his first. An infant, he was sitting on my lap, in the living room of Pudding Lane, waiting for trick or treaters to come. My husband had taken our 3 year old daughter out around the neighborhood, with friends. She didn’t want to miss out on the fun. Every year after, our children donned homemade costumes, (until they could make their own) and walked around the neighborhood, knocking on doors. “Trick or Treat!”

Even more fun was had when we moved to a different neighborhood. With 28 kids living on the street, there was never a loss for little taps on our door, followed by the thunderous roar of monsters, princesses, and goblins, in packs, screaming in unison, “Trick or Treat”! The same, year after year! Little kids, with silly parents standing by their side, big kids, high school kids, all showed up. I couldn’t wait to see their costumes.

Yesterday was another Halloween. I went out to buy groceries. A clerk with a beautiful green face checked me out. Then I thought, “Forgot to get candy”, so I parked my cart of purchases at the front of the store, and ran and grabbed a couple of bags. Arriving home, I turned on the outside lights, and made dinner. When we finished eating, it dawned on me that no-one had come. It wasn’t a surprise, as it’s been a couple of years now. Our street is dark, and the street off of it is also dark, winding and hilly. No more kids live on this dead end street, more glamorously called a “cul-de-sac.”  Dead-End is more fitting for Halloween.

Looking at the candy on the counter, reality set in.  Un-opened, I hadn’t put them in a basket by the door, like before. Thoughtlessly, I ripped into a bag, and ate a Mr. Good Bar. My favorite! Relishing the sweet chocolate flavor in my mouth, I said, “Too many left for my own good.”

Chalking up another Halloween; Could this year’s be a latent phase of the ‘Empty Nest Syndrome?’ – A hard knock on the door of Time.  A reminder of how to stay forever young! Next year calls for a costume, with a green face, and a sign up at the end of the street. “Open for trick or treaters!”

 

Foggy Ruminations

~ TiffanyCreek ~ Leave a comment

August 30, 2017

The morning began in a fog.  The ocean was barely visible from a distance, prompting my entire self to appear at the shore.  The waves undulated softly on the horizon. At first, their height was undefined. My periphery was enveloped in a dense mist.  Whiteness resounded, along with the swoosh of breaking waves. The water crept in closer and closer.  I skipped back, so as not to get wet. The approach differed, with every tide. Irregularity! Some hardly came near, others surged inward with intention. The waves are a tease, as is life.

Light clarified, and the surfers began to come out. Like ants of a colony, they joined each other in the water. Never surf alone!  Not a sport for the meek and mild. The waves were high today and the surfer’s sense of excitement permeated the air. The challenge of riding the rising white capped water presented itself. A unique moment of bliss!

Now, the day is progressing into ‘busy,’ as usual.  While the surfers pursue their quest, cars go racing by, on the 101.   Campers awaken, fix their breakfast and joggers and walkers abound everywhere.  Never, without a sign of life, the California coast comes alive!

The clock ticks away, in opposite fragments of time and space. I feel saddened by the  unlivable circumstances “Harvey” brings to the people of Houston. The decision to evacuate, or not was wisely chosen. According to past experience, moving thousands of people out of the city was an unimaginable undertaking.   The fourth largest city in the U.S.A, found itself in a no win situation!

How lucky I have been to escape tragedy, thus far.  I cross my fingers, knock on wood every morning upon waking, and even at night, bring myself to say a prayer, thanking the supreme forces, for giving me another day. One more chance to watch the ocean, listen to the rumble of cars, be with those near and dear, and hopefully, give back to the world.  The fog has lifted, for awhile.

 

Pacific Ocean

~ TiffanyCreek ~ Leave a comment

IMG_9062At 7 a.m. walking with my daughter along the edge of the beach, we found this heart made of rocks.  It reminded me how strong the human heart can really be, and how generous people are, even though as human beings we live with uncertainty of what could happen from one moment to the next.  Anticipation lingers in the air. Living is easier for some, than for others.  It really is. Sometimes we find we are the weak ones in life, and other times, the strong, and we carry and support each other when need be. Mothers and fathers lead their children by the hand as they get on the buses for the first time on these August mornings. Young people going off to college need the strength of family and friends. These are the lucky ones.  The unfortunate are those who don’t get second chances in life, for many reasons. Sometimes it’s because of the color of someone’s skin, or a singular child regardless of color, finds himself, or herself, left out.

In front of the heart made of sand, water and rocks, Carolina and I could hear and see the waves of the ocean, large and small, breaking. The tide flowed in and out. The sea, a vast body of water, works with the moon and stars.  Together they govern the movement of rivers and streams, the coming and going of storms, and the magnitude of the human spirit.  It all works like a jigsaw puzzle.  One piece dependent on the other, and we are a part of the matrix.  We can try to control as much as we want but ‘somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds still fly and the dream that you dream, may someday come true, if you so dare to wish upon a star.’ It’s not for us to know.

Listen to the waves of your beating heart, and follow the calling and message of good that comes about. If you want, play the ukulele, or the flute.  Play to your hearts content! As you play don’t worry how it sounds. Whatever you do, never forget, it’s a wonderful world – right where you stand. In the depths of the sea, on the edge of the creek, in a friend, or lover, you can find the way to be strong, and help the weak.  When you find you are weak, the strong will help you.

We can be the good that happens in the world.  We have served our purpose on this earth when we become the breaking waves, and the rolling stones that make up this heart.  In helping others, we gain strength.

Cerisier

~ TiffanyCreek ~ Leave a comment

CerisierA walk this evening brought wonderful light.  When I saw the cherry tree, I knew I could capture a beautiful arrangement with the cherries set against the rosy sky cast by the setting sun behind me.  Many times this cherry tree has been a foreground or a backdrop to my photos.  A tree with personality, close up it has charm.

Today was a day that started off raining like cats and dogs.  It is also the birthday of my 31 year old daughter.  This brings back sweet memories of the day she was born.  They had to take her cesarean because my labor was not progressing normally, and she was also having an irregular heartbeat.  She was so tiny, barely 6 pounds but I nursed her at the hospital for a few days and they let us take her home.  My little pumpkin I called her or ‘zapallito’ in Spanish.  To think that now she is fully grown and working hard.  Maybe someday she will have a baby of her own.

I called a friend today, my friend Lisa.  I remembered her because last year around this time she and I spent time at her little house near Newport Rhode Island by the shore.  When I called I was saddened to find that she was not at the shore because she had gotten pneumonia 2 weeks ago and is still weak.  Even though she has taken antibiotic for 6 days she says she is still not feeling well.  I sincerely hope she has a quick recovery.

This news brings the day to an end.  One of my adventures today was to go to the grocery store.  Not such an eventful outing really, but something neat happened there.  When I was checking out, the girl at the register and the one bagging were being silly and the bagger blurted out ‘Despacito’ like she was singing a Spanish song.  She said that was all she knew in Spanish.  I told them I was a Spanish teacher and they thought that was really cool.  Then on the way out of the store a woman ahead of me rang a bell to the right of her just before the doors opened to the outside.  As I approached the bell I got close to see a sign on it that read, ‘if you had a good experience shopping, ring the bell’, and so I did.  I thought what a great idea, because every time the bell rings it sends good vibes about the store, a positive energy that flows to the customer and the employees.  It must send a reinforcing message to them that they are doing a good job.  I haven’t seen anything like this before but then maybe I’ve been missing something.  What a brilliant idea.

Tomorrow is another day.  Let’s see what’s in store for this ‘highly dangerous and dysfunctional world’ we live in.  Hope to find more bells to ring.

Today is the day!

~ TiffanyCreek ~ Leave a comment

The day of all days. The sun is shining, the oatmeal is cooking, the stomache is rumbling and waiting to be fed. Soon the food will feed the body and give the mind the energy to put ideas to work. Today is the day of all days!