Tag: Christmas

Don’t Be Too Good

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Don’t be too good

You may be fucking up

By being too good

Bitter needs sweet

Sweet needs bitter

Show your true colors

Every once in a while

Surprise yourself!

Say what’s really on your mind

Stop crossing your t’s so perfectly

Stop dotting your i’s just right

If you’re like me

You always knew most of your school masters were vain and full of shit

They taught us things from a book

They demanded we pass all their tests

Not knowing they were failing us

Because you see

Every teacher worth his weight in gold knows that to teach simply means to awaken what is dormant

So go on!

FAIL!

Fail big

Fail medium

Fail small

Just don’t be afraid to try

The biggest failure is when you did nothing with your life

The biggest failures try to stop those of us who are trying

The biggest failures were brain washed as children by their school masters who cracked a wood ruler over their small knuckles because…

They would neither dot their i’s nor cross their t’s to perfection.

 

Eva Santiago copyright 2013

 

 

 

 

epic-fail

 

 

 

 

Good-Byes Suck!

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Good-byes are awful

No need to say ’em

Say good-bye when love is done

say good-bye when someone’s dying

Otherwise, leave things be

Good-bye is way too final

See ya!

Ciao!

Adios!

Adieu!

Arrivederci!

All sound so much hopeful

All sound like

Catch ya later

Up ahead, down the lone winding road.

Good-bye means just that

No chance of ever meeting up

Good-bye means we closed the door.

-Eva Santiago copyright 2013

 

 

 

 

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 86

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CONTENTMENT IS A GIFT

I went to the store yesterday and I bought a wind chime and a hummingbird feeder. Once back home, I put the wind chime on my deck in the back yard. I hung the feeder from a limb on my olive tree with hopes that they’ll come to visit me. Then after dinner I sat on the swing listening to my wind chime sing as the wind caressed the pipes. My son came out and sat next to me. He said he found it amazing that I take pleasure in such simple things. And I told him it’s because I’m the kind of person who can enjoy a $10 wind chime more than a big screen TV.  Why is that?

I found out a long time ago that contentment is a choice as well. When my kids were all in the toddler stage, there were days where I found it hard to be content because back in those days they were my main focus. I had no time for myself and when I did make time it was to gather my scattered thoughts on paper to try to make sense of what was happening inside of me. That’s when I decided to purposefully sit back and watch my kids play and interact together and that day I found a sweetness in my choice to be a stay at home mom.

Not too long after that, I would listen to Joyce Meyer on the radio and she’d talk about being content no matter where you are in life. Gee,  everyday I tuned in , it was the same message. Being a quick study, I caught on that I was right where I needed to be and that in order to be content in my present state, I had to appreciate it first. So I decided to get down with my little ones and finger paint with them. This is what awakened the artist that I’d never dreamed I was before. Contentment brought me to a place of self-discovery and I’m so glad I chose to make friends with her. She’s a gift that keeps on giving!

So I invite you dear reader to examine your life and see if you’re lacking contentment, ask yourself what can you do about it. What’s robbing you of finding true contentment? If you’re content already, hang on to it no matter what because you and I both know it took some time and struggle to attain it.

‘Twas 3 Days After Christmas

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‘Twas 3 days after Christmas

when all through the land,

not a kid was in sight.

No fussing, no arguing,

there was not a single fight.

Where could they all be?

I looked out my window

the streets are  deserted.

I looked here, there,

I looked everywhere

and I grew disconcerted.

There they are!

Didn’t have to look far.

They all have their eyes,

glued to their Kindles-

their hands on their iPads.

They no longer wonder.

They no longer ponder.

Little ones, of all ages and sizes

too early to be  wired,

6,8,10 12 year olds,

young minds now in a quagmire.

So I looked in the past,

when kids did kid things-

they played cow boys and Indians

and the sunsets seemed to last.

They played hide and go seek

some even thought they had wings.

Some jumped rope and hopscotched 

and they made up their own nursery rhymes.

They had imagination,

because it was encouraged.

They had less information

thus, they weren’t so discouraged.

This is a plea for the parents

of this current generation

now being nurtured,

on their iPhones, iPads,

Kindles, Androids, and iPods:

Our kids need US!

Our kids don’t need anymore APPS.

There isn’t an APP to replace

a hug, a kiss and a smile.

There isn’t an APP to replace,

time well spent with your child.

-EVA SANTIAGO Copyright 2011

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 29

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I’m down to the wire here friends! This 30 day blog challenge has taken me through a fun stroll down memory lane. I hope as you’ve read some of my posts, that maybe this could help get your own conversation started about your own unique memories.

Day 29 Question 29: What particular Christmas memory do you remember most fondly?

Answer: I’m posting another excerpt from my book AS CLEAR AS CLAIRE GETS as my answer for today:

That Christmas Eve something amazing happened; we were watching TV while Tio worked a double shift in the ER. The whole night was dragging on because this was very different from the festive holidays we were all used to. In past years, the house was always filled with guests, now it was just the four of us. I was not interested in the TV at all, I would glance up at the cuckoo clock hanging by the banister, and it stood still it seemed. Suddenly at midnight when the cuckoo came out to announce the hour, the doorbell rang. I sprang up from the couch and I ran as fast as I could to see who might be at the door at this late hour. Once I opened the door, Tio was standing there smiling with a box of Dunkin’ Donuts  in his hands. I threw my arms around him because I was so glad to see him and he hugged me back tenderly. Suddenly he realized what he was doing as he stiffened up quickly and the moment vanished but not from my heart.

As he settled in, he explained to all of us that he had managed to get another doctor to cover his shift so he could come be with us. This was an isolated incident where he had been affectionate with me and it still makes me smile today. It told me back then and even now that somewhere in that stony heart of his, there is a place for me. Tiny though it may seem, that place is there because he let me see it for a second.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 28

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Day 28 Question 28: What do you remember most about your first Christmas as a mom or dad?

Answer: Looking back now that we have 4 kids and our oldest is 17, I had to really pause and think on this question.  At that time I chose to be a full time stay at home mom and our finances were cut in half. When Christmas came around all I cared about was that I had a family of my own. We put up a tree and decorated our home as usual. My husband kept apologizing because he felt bad since he couldn’t buy us  any presents. I really didn’t care, I had a 4 month old baby girl in my arms and that’s all that mattered.

God sends people to bless us and when He does, we can’t act foolish or proud and not receive their blessing. Did you know that when someone is trying to bless you and you refuse them;  you are robbing that person of their blessing? I learned about that in those days. Sometimes you have to humble yourself and receive.

That same year we had some friends who were struggling financially too. They had a baby girl who was a few months older than mine and 2 older boys. When Martin called my husband a couple of days before Christmas and told him they had no food we  moved to help. I looked in my pantry and fridge and thanked God that they were full.

My husband had a collection of vinyl records back then. It was his dream to open a store and he had amassed enough to do so. Whenever we were short on cash, he would sell his records to tie us over until his next pay check. He took some records and sold them. When he returned he was so happy because he was able to give some of his earning to our friends in need. When we showed up at their home with a check in hand, our friends were so happy. That made OUR Christmas.

On Christmas Day we went to church. Our friends Jan & Alan were asking us about our Christmas.  We both joked that we were so broke, we had passed on giving ourselves any presents this year. Then My husband shared about how we had helped our other friends the day before. After church we were driving away and Jan & Alan were right behind us. They motioned us to pull over and we did. Jan told me to open my hand and when I did, she pressed a fresh new $100 bill into my gloved hand and wished us both a Merry Christmas. Before I could even say thanks, they had sped away. I cried that morning and I think I saw a couple of tears on my husband’s face too. Ok, I just had to stop and wipe my eyes just now too :,)

When you are good to others, God never overlooks it. When you give out of the little  that you have, it makes God smile. God’s goodness never gets old. I would love to hear some of your stories, so please feel free to comment and share. I hope you are enjoying this season!

THANK YOU!

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I came to the USA,
33 years ago
Although I love my country of birth,
the place of my ancestors,
is still in my heart…
BUT I’ve lived in this great land,
for most of my life.
As a girl I ran on the sand
of her finest beaches.

Panama City Beach

I grew up eating
Georgia’s delectable peaches. 
I’ve seen the sunrise in the east,
to watch it descend
in the far west. 
My eyes have seen a feast,
but the sun setting where I live,
is always the finest,the absolute best.
All of my blessings
have been given to me here,
in this wonderful place.
Where God has given me favor,
and showed me His face.
I never give acknowledgement once a year.
For all that I have,
a life rich with flavor.
I look into the eyes of my loved ones…
daily I see,
daily I hear,
daily I know,
and daily I am aware of whom I’m indebted to.
Because I am rich without measure,
I look all around,
in my home, so MUCH treasure!
I appreciate you God,
for bringing me here,
I say it to you today and through out the rest of the year!!

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of my family,friends and readers!

Eva Santiago copyright 2009

Fall in the Desert

 

When Your Sister Turns Her Back on You

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I am the youngest of eight children. My oldest sister is six years older than I. Our mother became ill after having me. So naturally my eldest sister stepped in and took care of me as best as she could when I was but an infant. My mother passed away on what happened to be my sister’s birthday, my father’s passing came not too long after.

Looking back on my childhood, I see my sister in and out of my life at different intervals.I remember being separated from her for I don’t know how long. The day she came back,I was elated . I hung on to her when I finally saw her and I asked her.”Will you stay for a hundred days?” Back then at that age, that increment of time seemed like an eternity in my young mind.I looked up to her like a form of God at that moment . My sister… my hero.

Then there was the day that she had to leave me to come live in the United States. I was devastated. To this day I remember that we ate watermelon sprinkled with salt for breakfast. Then she was gone. I wasn’t taken to the airport to see her off. All I knew was she was gone for good.We wouldn’t be bathing our dolls anymore or letting them sit in the sun to dry off while we washed their clothes.

A few years later,my turn came to come live in the United States. I was being torn away from my other sister and brother. My last night with them,we all huddled closely in the same bed Each of us trying to comfort one another. I recall going to sleep while my other sister rocked me …I couldn’t stop crying and neither could she.

Boy was I ever surprised when I stepped off the plane on May 7, 1976 at Miami International Airport to be greeted by my eldest,”long lost sister”. It was the salve that my aching soul needed to feel welcome into a new country, family and life!
My first Christmas in the United States came and went with much fanfare. A lot of relatives came to visit. The music was rocking the house. Latin sounds permeated the atmosphere. Plenty of food and spirits to celebrate the season. In all the festivities,no one noticed that the two orphaned sisters were quietly tucked away in grandma’s bedroom. The older held the younger as they both rocked back and forth. Crying, trying to find comfort in each other’s arms.

Then there was the last Christmas that I saw my sister as a child. She came with my aunt and grandma just for the week-end. The hours flew by so quickly. When it was all said and done,she was on the Greyhound bus on a cold,damp, dreary morning. I went straight to my bed and I hugged my pillow so hard,wishing it was her instead. To this day, I still feel that ache;it reminds me of that nagging tooth ache that tells you to go see a dentist pronto or else you’ll be in for far worse.

So now where are we? More distant than ever. Life has dealt both of us blows. She is a success in her world. What she thinks of me? I have no idea! I used to resent her for still trying to mother me when I needed a sister. But time has whittled down those feelings too and left in place understanding. If she was with me right now what would I tell her? Thank you! I’m glad that you are my sister. I regret having hurt you but I was being merely human. To err is human to love is divine…I accept you with all your shortcomings and strengths will you do the same for me? I love you Mireya!
 
Eva Santiago Copyright 2011