Inside the Mind of Isadora


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Friday Fictioneers – Sunday Ferry Ride

Rain poured down. We were waiting on line to board the Staten Island ferry; a habitual Sunday routine. Usually, we’d go to the beach then visit, Mr. Frank. He was a Santero.

I was feeling car sick. My dad smoked Camels.The open windows would blow the smoke into the backseat.

I can remember the first time we were waiting to board. I had a panic attack and couldn’t stop crying. I thought we were going to drive into the ocean. I can’t swim.

“Shut up!”

A simple explanation would have helped.

Uncanny, I still see a ferry and cringe.

2017©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
Photo Prompt: ©Ted Strutz

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge
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Santeria is a syncretistic Caribbean religion.

Santeria includes the worship of the Orisha — literally “head guardians,” and religious beliefs of the Yoruba and Bantu people in Southern Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea Coast. These are combined with elements of Roman Catholicism.
Arriving as slaves in the Caribbean, Santerians preserved the elements of their religion by equating each Orisha of their traditional religions with a corresponding christian saint. Many traditions, within the religion, recognize different equivalencies.

One common example includes:
Babalz Ayi became St. Lazarus (patron of the sick)

Shangs became St. Barbara (controls thunder, lightning, fire…)

Eleggua or Elegba became St. Anthony (controls roads, gates etc)

Obatala became Our Lady of Las Mercedes, and the Resurrected Christ (father of creation; source of spirituality)

Oggzn became St. Peter (patron of war)

Oshzn became Our Lady of Charity (controls money, sensuality…)

Many Santerian beliefs are not freely discussed outside of the faith. In addition, there are many religious leaders whose beliefs and practices differ significantly. information click here

 


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Friday Fictioneers – Sashay to Trouble

The moon filtered through the starless clouded sky.

She could see tiny white lights shining on the patio. By midnight, they’d be drunk.
It was the perfect night to go.

Silk stockings stretched over her shapely legs and thighs. A black leather skirt accented her curvaceous hips. The spiky heels, she’d picked up at a yard sale, completed her outfit. She felt as fiery as a hot chili pepper.

A car pulled up beside her.

“Looking for some fun?”

“No …” “I’m near my destination.”

“Think so?”

“I’ve got other plans for you, cupcake.”

Tearfully, “I’m grounded. Right Mom?”

  2017©Isadora DeLaVega

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100 words
Photo prompt: Dale Rogerson

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Friday Fictioneers – In the Garden

 

She was waiting for him in the garden. He’d gone to get some wine for their moonlight stargazing tonight. He was always very romantic.

Walking among his many prize-winning roses, she was enveloped by their aroma. There were many varieties. He was proud of his green thumb.

Turning, she saw him running towards her.

“Mona!”

“My precious flower. The love of my life”.

He finally said it.

“Oh, Pierre!”

“Mona, my flower!”

“Oh, Pierre! I love you too!”

Pierre reached her. He knelt down and moved her foot aside.

“My flower!”

“You were standing on my prized-winning flower.”

2017©Isadora DeLaVega

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt:Sarah Potter

 

 

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Deviled Eggs

The weekly photo challenge is ‘Order.’ If you’d like to see the photos I selected for my photography blog click here.

While seaching for the photo challenge, I came across this deviled eggs photograph. I remembered I had a recipe from a few years back. The deviled eggs are in perfect order. I thought I’d add the photograph and recipe here. Summer is upon us. If you’re going to a cookout or merely having cocktails with friends this a a tasty appetizer for you to serve.

Recipe Ingredients:
eggs ( brown or white )
mayonnaise
mustard
sea salt
pepper (white)
garlic
red peppers in olive oil ( optional )
green or black olives ( optional )
tow teaspoons or smaller spoon and a serving tray

Preparations:
Place eggs in cold water in a pan on the stove on high
When they are at a rapid boil cover and shut off heat
Let stand

In a small food processor – put the mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic – pulse lightly to mix

Peel and cut eggs in half – remove the yolk and put into food processor

Pulse mixture until creamy – if you prefer – you can leave it slightly chunky

Place egg whites halves on serving tray

With on teaspoon gather your mixture – with the other teaspoon slide mixture onto egg whites from the first teaspoon. Fill to capacity.

Garnish with slivers of red peppers in olive oil or black or green olives.

~~~~~

*****I’m sure you’re wondering why I haven’t given you the quantities for each item in the recipe. It turns out my Dad taught me how to make these deviled eggs. He was a cook in the army. I’m not sure if he made them during the time he was cooking in the service. Can you imagine how many deviled eggs his quantities would have to be? When I would ask him for the amounts, he always said, “All good cooks taste as they go along”.

Enjoy,

Isadora 😎


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Nurturing Yourself – with Tai Chi

It’s been a year since I had my back surgery. It went well but healing has taken all this time. When your back isn’t aligned other joints are affected. Because of that, my knees weren’t behaving. My dancing career helped with those joint issues too. Everything is back to the way it should be for a senior. But, it’s only been 2 weeks. My mind was remembering the peaceful tai chi class I used to take. I went into my e-mails so I could contact my teacher. There in my inbox was her smiling face. I was elated. My first class will be tomorrow. I thought this type of exercise might be of interest to you. I reposted the Tai Chi nurturing I had written in 2014.

Hope you enjoy …. Isadora 🙏

The mind is everything … what you think you become … Buddah

Ni Hao – Hello ( Chinese )

Tai Chi is an ancient type of exercise similar to martial arts that has been practiced in China for centuries. The fluid slow movements make it safe and effective. If you simply incorporate this practice into your lifestyle it will be of great benefit to both mental and physical health.
Tai Chi is popular among senior citizens and those suffering from limitations that prevent them from doing other types of exercises. Some people find it to be easier than meditation for quieting their mind.

How does this ancient type of exercise prevent putting any strain on your body?

Tai Chi is a combination of elegant movements that are performed in a slow and flexible manner. They flow into each other. It looks like a well-choreographed slow motion dance. The movements are soft and fluid without jerking the body from one position to another.

A professional can give you lessons and advise on the movements and their pattern. The techniques are free flowing but there are a few guidelines that are important to keep in mind. Always keep your posture straight but your arms loose. It’s important to never apply force in any movement and to stay totally relaxed in order to refrain from putting any strain on the joints.

Many people are acquainted with the hand movements seen when Tai Chi is being performed in parks, at the beach or in gyms. The flowing movements help strengthen muscles. The quiet thoughtful concentration creates a calming effect that helps the body decrease tension, anxiety and stress. It can be performed alone or in a group. Apart from these benefits, Tai Chi works on your psychological level by improving concentration and focus to strengthen your mind.

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My Tai Chi Dance teacher – Sui

Each movement or posture carries defensive or offensive applications. In order to understand these applications it’s vital to grasp the awareness of the concept of Yin and Yang. Yin is the soft female principle and Yang is the masculine principle.

Tai Chi movements:
• releases tension and relaxes body


• it tones and strengthens muscles

• it improve respiration

• it helps increase emotional balance

• it improves balance

• it improves circulation

• Harmonize body and mind

What precautions ought I take before practicing?
Tai chi is mild enough for pretty much everybody. However, it is a sensible plan to talk with your doctor before making an attempt tai chi.

This is a professional video for those who wish to see the technique.

Tai Chi for Beginners, 8 Lessons with Dr Paul Lam – first lesson

I hope you’ll take time to find an exercise that helps you to become healthier both mentally and physically while creating a calming lifestyle in the process. Our bodies are our temples gifted to us from a greater creator who has gifted us with its care.
Zai Jiau – Good-Bye (Chinese )
Namaste …
Isadora 🙏

Namaste
I honor the place in you
in which the entire universe dwells.
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, and of Truth,
of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me.
We are One.

 

Becca from ‘On Dragonfly Wings with Buttercup Tea’ hosts Nurturing Thursday

to join in click here


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December 30, 2012


Icy rain poured on the cops.

The grim chaos didn’t surprise them. It was a safe haven for the regulars. A place they could shoot up.

“Overhere, Carl”.

“What da we have?” asked the coroner.

“DOA, female, white, blond, maybe 20, looks like an overdose.”

“Damn, these young people. They think they’re invincible.”

Gagging, Sarge nodded his head.

“Yeah, looks like heroin. She’s got teeth; that’ll help. Get her down to the morgue, ASAP.”

~~~~~

“Frank, she’s back here.”

“Seeing her, he screamed, Myrna.”

“God no, he wailed. Man, that’s my sister.”

“She’s been missing. She’s no junkie. She was kidnapped.”

2017©Isadora DeLaVega

Word Count: 100 words
Genre: Flash Fiction
Photo Prompt: j.Hardy Carroll

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Nurture Yourself – Reflecting on our Mother’s Words

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When we reflect on our lives we can’t help but include in our thoughts the one person who’s had the most influence on us:

‘Our Mother.’

She forms the person we’ll be from the beginning of conception. We’re who we are because of her. Despite the way we may feel about her, she is the major player in the formation of our lives.

There are lessons a mother teaches us but it’s always up to us to put them into effect.

It’s always up to us to be in charge of our decisions.

Sometimes, we ruminate and get stuck on what we weren’t given.

This shouldn’t matter.

For in the end, if we fail or if we succeed, we should never forget that the final choices are always up to us.

The poem below reflects a Mother’s words eloquently … enjoy the Secret Garden as you read.

Namaste, Isadora
2017©Isadora DeLaVega

Namaste
I honor the place in you
in which the entire universe dwells.
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, and of Truth,
of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me.
We are One.

 

Secret Garden – Reflection

~~~~~

Angel hugging child

Reflections of a Mother…

I gave you life, 
but cannot live it for you.

I can teach you things,
 but I cannot make you learn.

I can give you directions,
 but I cannot be there to lead you.

I can allow you freedom,
 but I cannot account for it.

I can take you to church,
 but I cannot make you believe.

I can teach you right from wrong,
 but I cannot always decide for you.

I can buy you beautiful clothes,
 but I cannot make you beautiful inside.

I can offer you advice,
 but I cannot accept it for you.

I can give you love,
 but I cannot force it upon you.

I can teach you to share,
 but I cannot make you unselfish.

I can teach you respect,
 but I cannot force you to show honor.

I can advise you about friends,
 but cannot choose them for you.

I can advise you about sex, 
but I cannot keep you pure.

I can tell you the facts of life,
 but I can’t build your reputation.

I can tell you about drink,
 but I can’t say “no” for you.

I can warn you about drugs,
 but I can’t prevent you from using them.

I can tell you about lofty goals,
 but I can’t achieve them for you.

I can teach you about kindness,
 but I can’t force you to be gracious.

I can warn you about sins,
 but I cannot make you moral.

I can pray for you, 
but I cannot make you walk with God.

I can tell you how to live,
 but I cannot give you eternal life.

I can love you with unconditional love all of my life
….. and I will.
    ~~~ Author Unknown ~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~ 
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Becca from On Dragonfly Wings with Buttercup Tea
hosts Nurturing Thursday every week.

All are welcome to join in – click here


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Friday Fictioneers – The Last Letter

The house was eerily quiet. The chilly air, a reminder of her long-term estrangement from her mother.

Sorting through years of her mementos was going to be laboriously stressful. It would be easier once Monique arrived.

She opened a leather box her mother kept on her desk. Letters from France?

Angelique read the last letter:

‘Dearest,
I miss you, though your touch lingers still.
Without you, time is an empty space.
I long to hold you. My heart aches for your return.
Come back soon, Mon amour.
Je t’aime,
Pierre’

Ergo, the secret of our French names finally revealed.

2017©Isadora DeLaVega

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt©Sandra Crook

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