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Celia


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Marti's Goat.     She claimed her,  named her,  when she was born.   Her love of Celia Cruz had to do with it but we would need to ask Marti about that.    

but today,  in keeping with how days are going lately,   when I gave her her morning medicinal Fig Newton,  I stayed with her.  Hung out.   Walked around with her.    The Vet prescribed something for her arthritis when we were at the Evac in Camelot.  It's working well…she is so at ease.   Gets her 3 little pills tucked into half a fig Newton every other day.  on the off days,  the half that's a dud medicinally,  but not to her…fig Newton is fig Newton….

and I had the phone in my pocket,  thinking about Celia Cruz   thinking how Marti loves her,   I YouTubed   La Negra Tiene Tumbao  and out there,  in the Oak and Pine forest of this Hill we were for those moments in Cuba,  the ultimate Celia and I thought about how I know Marti gets up at 3 and 4 am  and maybe she's not all Celtic,  maybe  in those early hours,  there's a secret Marti.   I smiled,  thinking about this.  I can SEE it.   

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3 responses to “Celia”

  1. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    The single word, Celia, and my heart clenched, she had died… So it is with such happiness that I read that she is still on the Hill, taking her pills in fig Newtons. Yes, she was named for my beloved Celia Cruz. When she was born, I was living in Texas and had just attended a Celia Cruz exhibit so I thought it so fitting to name this little for her.
    The first time that I became aware of Celia Cruz was on the PBS documentary, Roots of Rhythm. How I wish I had seen her in person for her zest for life connected with my soul. Here was a passionate, gifted woman, outrageous in her gowns and dyed hair that often matched the color of her gowns, singing and dancing with her whole being. I said to myself, this is who I want to be, not the singing but the dancing.
    “Azucar” ! is the Spanish word for sugar and was the way Celia greeted each audience at her concerts. Although it is a sweet greeting, their was a passion and a reason for the greeting. Celia honored her African roots, her ancestors and sang this word in praise of how they worked as slaves on sugar plantations in Cuba..
    I am a story teller and I have two to share: As I mentioned, when we lived in Texas, the Museo de Alameda, had a Celia Cruz exhibit. We made a day of it, lunch at Mi Tierra, and then onto to the museum. Displays filled with her story, her costumes, photos, song lyrics and as you walked up to each one, her voice rang out, music exploded the air so of course, I danced from exhibit to exhibit, under the watchful and somewhat stern eye of the museum guards. I will never forget that day, the emotions, the utter JOY of being alive, being a woman, being a woman who has never been afraid to make an ass of herself, not caring if others looked askance, life simply is too short not to give into moments of sheer joy and happiness.
    Celia is always with me for as grace wisely surmised, I am up very early most mornings and often dance, headphones on so as not to disturb my husband. Depending on my mood, I dance to Celtic music, Motown music, Hawaiian chants and often to my beloved Celia. Who needs to go to a gym when you can get a fabulous workout from dancing, especially with Celia! I used the word with because when I dance to her music, I feel her spirit surround me and we dance together.
    Last year when I went to get my Covid/flu shot at Walmart, I had an appointment but as these things go, I had to wait. Music is often piped in and all of a sudden, salsa music surrounded the air and Celia was singing. I wrestled with myself but finally turned to ask the woman behind me if she could hold my place as I had to do something, she agreed and what I had to do was dance around the line, in between the aisles at the pharmacy and just let myself go. When the music ended, I went back to the line and found people laughing and clapping as did the pharmacy staff…
    Such is the power of Celia…and yes, while the landscape of my heart is Celtic, my blood is Spanish and surges now and then in connection….

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  2. Peggy McG Avatar
    Peggy McG

    So wonderful to read this history and connection to Your goat!

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  3. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    I love these stories!

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