Sunday, May 11, 2014

More Motherly Talk

Such a good day full of not much but sweet air smelling of jasmine and magnolia, the breeze from front door to back, keeping an eye on the baby chickens, laundry, a nap.
The chicks spent most of the day in the entrance to the hen house, wallowing in the hay. They luxuriated in it and whenever I'd go to check on them, they'd run out to greet me, then settle back to wallow some more. Maurice follows us outside whenever we go, not to interact with us, but just to keep watch. I feel very comforted by her presence.



I actually packed most of my my clothes. Skirts, two pairs of shorts, a lot of shirts, some dresses. Bathing suits. Haven't packed my underwear yet but I will.
Now I'm in the process of deciding what to take out of the suitcase. I am trying to be very honest with myself about what I will actually wear and what I just have a fantasy about wearing. I am going to wear one pair of shoes (good idea, right?) and take one more pair. That will do. No fancy footwear required for Cozumel. No fancy anything required but I do love to get dressed of an evening to go out with my handsome husband for our supper. It is a huge part of my enjoyment. To do my eyes with glitter, to wear something that makes me feel pretty. Ritual. Custom. Respect for the joyful purpose of our trip which is to reclaim all of that which made us fall in love in the first place. There are rites which must be observed, spells which must be cast. They include glitter eye-liner and dresses and jangling silver bracelets, bare shoulders, hair and skin clean after the day's snorkeling or swimming, lotion, perfume.
For me, at least.
No. I am not taking any overalls to Cozumel.
It would not be fitting. Somehow, I do not think Ixchel would approve.
Perhaps I was a Mayan woman in a former lifetime, expected to make a pilgrimage to Cozumel, sacred to that goddess of the moon, fertility, the sea, the ocean, writing, weaving. Maybe that is why I am so drawn to the island.
Good as any other reason I can come up with.


Ixchel and the Virgin of Guadalupe. They have been assimilated and both are well-represented everywhere on the island. The picture above is a fountain by the water downtown. Here is a picture of Jessie and me when she and Vergil visited us there two and a half years ago. I stole it from the Facebook. 


Vergil just called to wish me happy Mother's Day. 
I could not have asked for a better day. 

I'm going to go cook some eggs laid by my mother hens. I am getting ready to go to the island where mothers are worshipped. I live under the matriarchal oaks. The mother moon will be full the night before we get to the island. I will watch her rise over the Caribbean and wane until I leave. 

If I leave. 

Oh. You know I will. These oaks, my grandchildren, my chickens, my home are all here. 
But oh, how I will worship while I am gone with glitter and love and sunsets. 

And Ixchel. 

Love...Ms. Moon







10 comments:

  1. That was 2.5 years ago, when Jessie and Vergil went with you?! Holy hell.

    I will await my Cozumel souvenir with bated breath :)

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  2. I love how hard you two work at love.
    :)

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  3. Happy Mother's Day lovely woman and have a great time in Cozumel.

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  4. SJ- You've been my friend for so long. The very thought of it really makes me be in wonder. And happy.

    Heartinhand- It can be most pleasurable. And we always use good manners.

    Beth Coyote- And to you. Who have delivered so many women into motherhood. Safely and with love.

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  5. I might leave a comment every single day until you leave to remind you to leave a bit of room in your suitcase for me.

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  6. A watch cat is a very comforting thing to have. Thinking of you.

    -invisigal

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  7. Oh this makes me so excited for you! It sounds like a wonderful time will be had but your glitter eyeshadow wearing bare shouldered self, and your husband will be entranced (as indeed he always is) and you will be restored by the salt air and the moon and the sea, and yes, you most definitely spent another life in that place, a good one, no doubt, and I am glad it is there for you to return to with your love. and that photo of you and jessie is so wonderful. the light in jessie's face always reminds me of the light in my own daughter. it is wonderful to bask in for sure. hugs, dear mary.

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  8. We are packing as well. I'm not taking much but C. is going back through the suitcase to unpack. LOL.

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  9. Elizabeth- Okay. But you have to bring your own suitcase for your clothes. Or, we could share.

    Invisigal- She is a comfort for sure. At least to me.

    Angella- Yep. Our daughters are very much alike in so many ways. Another bond we share.

    Syd- Yes. Well. We are women. We must do these things.

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  10. Ha! I love the image of you wandering around Cozumel in your overalls. :)

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.