In a corner of the garden, Morning Glory vines have all but taken over the old red wagon and half of the vintage Belgian chair with the missing rush seat.
From mid-June to August, I battle with the flowering vines as they weave in and out of the posts of the side fence. They wind around and around the Lilac and Rose of Sharon bushes, the Dogwood and Cypress trees. I untangle, unwind, and cut myriad strands of braided vines. Often, it’s a losing battle!
By the end of September, when the visits have wound down, the days become cooler and shorter as Autumn approaches, I let the Morning Glory run wild. That’s when I finally pay attention to their beauty. This morning, coffee cup in hand and pen poised over the pages of my journal, I enjoy and appreciate the vivid purple and dark pink blooms around me that seem to say, “What took you so long?”
Be present. Be in nature. Be at peace. Stop fighting the situations, challenges, and people around you. Just be.
Enjoy good memories. Sit with the triumphs, tears, and joyful moments of the year. Soon, it will be time to go inward in every sense of the word.
Peace.
About Eleanor Parker Sapia:
Puerto Rican-born Eleanor Parker Sapia is the author of the multi-award-winning historical novel, A DECENT WOMAN (2017 & 2019 International Latino Book Awards) and the award-winning collection of poetry, TIGHT KNOTS. LOOSE THREADS. (2021 International Latino Book Awards). Eleanor’s books are published by Winter Goose Publishing.
Eleanor is currently working on her second historical novel, THE LAMENTS, and a new poetry collection, currently titled ERASE AND REWIND.
I hope you are enjoying your summer and staying healthy. Mask up, everyone. The Delta variant is a real and present danger. Get your vaccines. I’m ready for my first booster shot after the two initial vaccines. Not taking any chances.
I’m thrilled to share that my first poetry collection, Tight Knots. Loose Threads. is a Finalist in the 2021 International Latino Books Awards for Best First Book, Fiction. Tight Knots. Loose Threads. joins A Decent Woman, my first historical novel, with literary awards–what an honor.
Congratulations to all the Finalists and Honorable Mentions! Thank you ILBA and Empowering Latino Futures, judges, and readers for all you do for Latinx authors.
“Empowering Latino Futures International Latino Book Awards The Largest Awards in the USA Celebrating Achievements in Latino Literature
Major Publishers Are Paying Attention to Books By & About Latinos By Kirk Whisler
The International Latino Book Awards is a major refection that the fastest growing group in the USA has truly arrived. The Awards are now by far the largest Latino cultural Awards in the USA and with the 276 finalists this year in 105 categories, it has now honored the greatness of 3,470 authors and publishers over the past two decades. The size of the Awards is proof that books by and about Latinos are in high demand. In 2020 Latinos will purchase over $750 million in books in English and Spanish.
The 2021 Finalists for the 23rd Annual International Latino Book Awards are another reflection of the growing quality of books by and about Latinos. About 42% of the winners were from major U.S. and Int’l publishers, up from 19% five years ago. In order to handle this large number of books, the Awards had 198 judges in 2021. The judges shared how hard it was because there are now so many great books being published.
Judges included librarians, educators, media professionals, leaders of national organizations, Pulitzer Prize Winners, and even elected officials. The Awards celebrates books in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Finalists are from across the USA, Puerto Rico, and 19 other countries. The Awards are produced by Empowering Latino Futures, a nonprofit organization co-founded in 1997 by Edward James Olmos and Kirk Whisler. Other ELF programs include the Latino Book & Family Festival, currently being held virtually at http://www.LBFF.us, our 69th Festival. The International Society of Latino Authors now has 140+ members. Education Begins in the Home has supplied books to 155,000+ young readers. The Latino & American Indian Scholarship Directory has been used by 182,000 students. More than 80 episodes of the Latino Reads Podcast have now aired. ELF’s programs have now touched well over a million people. Over 350 volunteers annually donate 14,000+ hours of service.
The Awards Ceremony will be held virtually October 16 and 17 via http://www.LatinoBookAwards.org. Current and past sponsors have included AALES, AARP, American Library Association, Atria Publishing, Book Expo America, California State University System, California State University Dominguez Hills, California State University San Bernardino, Entravision, Independent Book Publishers Association, Las Comadres para las Americas, Libros Publishing, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Community College District, MAAC, MAOF, MiraCosta College, Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund, REFORMA, Scholastic Books, and Visa. ELF has recently gotten grants from Amazon, LULAC, SDGE, and the SBA.”
ABOUT ELEANOR PARKER SAPIA
Puerto Rican-born Eleanor Parker Sapia is the author of the multi-award-winning historical novel, A DECENT WOMAN, and her first collection of poetry titled, TIGHT KNOTS. LOOSE THREADS. both published by Winter Goose Publishing.
Eleanor is currently working on her second historical novel set in Puerto Rico called THE LAMENTS. She is the mother of two amazing young adults and tells herself that one day, she will walk El Camino de Santiago de Compostela again.
I hope you and yours are well. I also hope you’ve received your first vaccine. Even better if you’ve had the second shot. If not, I hope you’re on a short list. That’s a lot of hope!
Two weeks ago, I received my first vaccine. I will admit to higher than normal blood pressure that morning and it rose as I stood in line in a gymnasium with hundreds of folks after a one year lockdown. But what a happy day. A few hours later, I had a sore arm and maybe two hours of a low-grade fever, mild chills, and a dull headache. No big deal! As a person with autoimmune disease, I thanked my body for doing what it does best–fighting disease. I imagined my immune system filled with tiny She warriors with spears at the ready! I joked with my kids that somewhere in my compromised, but beautiful immune system stood Gandalf The Grey on the bridge, shouting, “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” Yes, I have an active imagination and I’m a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, smile.
Like many folks, I’d been on several vaccine lists. While it took two months to be notified with an appointment date, West Virginia has had one of the most successful and efficient vaccine rollouts in the nation. Some friends were surprised at that news because West Virginia is a red state. I don’t know about all that–I am thrilled with the vaccine roll-out in my adopted state!
My appointment for the second vaccine is scheduled for March 30. I’m a bit nervous about the reaction(s) that may occur with the second shot, but like Dr. Fauci says, ‘It’s certainly better than getting COVID.’ Amen. Get your vaccines.
March 11, 2021 marked the first anniversary of our US coronavirus-related lockdowns. To say 2020 was horrible doesn’t quite do our experiences justice, does it? I don’t know if there is one appropriate, all-encompassing adjective to accurately describe 2020 as our experiences are so different.
In my January 25, 2021 blog post (I can’t believe it’s been that long since I blogged), I said I wouldn’t rehash all that happened in 2020. Months later, I realize it wasn’t a matter of ‘I wouldn’t’, it was more like I couldn’t rehash all that had happened. At that time, I hadn’t processed it all, not even a little bit.
It’s often impossible to process the past if we’re in the thick of what ails us…and we are still living in a pandemic.
Yesterday, as I began this blog post, 548,058 Americans had died from COVID-19 and worldwide the number of deaths was 2,674,597 million. This morning, 549,484 Americans died. The worldwide number is 2,685,458. The numbers are heartbreaking and difficult to grasp. What my brain (and heart) has difficulty processing is how quickly the numbers rise, within minutes, seconds.
Families and loved ones of poor souls around the world who succumbed to the novel coronavirus have experienced a year of unadulterated hell. 2020 was a year of immense grief, paralyzing fear, perpetual anxiety, and unspeakable suffering. Although the number of deaths continues to rise, the number of cases is slowing down in the US, in large part because of President Biden and the government’s successful vaccine roll-out, and the quick turn-around of vaccine production and distribution. Thank God, Trump is gone.
Earlier in the month, it was reported that a staggering one in five Americans had experienced a death in the family. The suffering and exhaustion experienced by doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and caregivers is unfathomable. I don’t know how they do it day after day after day. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Stranger or friend, I don’t know one person who hasn’t been affected by COVID-19 in one way or another. Most of us still worry about the safety of our children, our loved ones. Unless, of course, you are a loyal MAGA follower, who still believes COVID-19 is one big hoax. In that case, I feel sorry for you.
Doctors and nurses across the US share story after story of patients on their death beds, who at the ends of their lives, still don’t believe in the reality of the virus. I would imagine a medical professional must feel enormous frustration, disbelief, and yes, anger as they care for and intubate non-believers and anti-vaxxers on their death beds.
I cannot fathom this mentality, this selfishness, this madness.
Stay safe, friends. Continue to wear your masks. Continue to practice social distancing and get your vaccines as soon as possible. I need to hug my children and my loved ones.
Eleanor x
ABOUT ELEANOR:
Puerto Rican-born Eleanor Parker Sapia is the author of the multi-award-winning novel, “A Decent Woman”, published by Winter Goose Publishing in 2019. Eleanor’s debut novel, set 1900 Puerto Rico, garnered awards at the 2016 and 2017 International Latino Book Awards. She is featured in the anthology, “Latina Authors and Their Muses”. Eleanor is working on her second novel “The Laments”, set in 1926 Puerto Rico. Her debut poetry collection, “Tight Knots. Loose Threads. Poems” is due for release in April 2021.
Eleanor is the mother of amazing adult children and currently lives in Berkeley County, West Virginia with her Chihuahua Sophie.
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