If You Want to Find Blue

Posted on March 2, 2018 by rosecappelli

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I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

My anticipation grew as I walked from the parking lot, up the stairs, and into the east conservatory at Longwood Gardens yesterday. I opened the door and there it was – that incredible perfume – from hundreds and hundreds of orchids.

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As I made my way to the children’s garden to begin my shift, I began to notice the colors – the whites and yellows and purples and reds –  giving way to blue. And then I remembered that this was a transition week. The winter blues festival starts this weekend, so flowers boasting every conceivable shade of blue were being planted for display. I noticed primrose, blue coleus, hydrangea, pansies, and a spikey new-to-me plant called Pride of Madeira. Since I had some time I was able to scout out the rare and fleeting Blue Poppies. These beauties are native to the high elevations of the Himalayan Mountains, but at Longwood they are magically cultivated for a short time, about two weeks, in the conservatory in early spring.

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I was reminded of the book by Eileen Spinelli If You Want to Find Golden, except in this case I would have to say “If You Want to Find Blue.”

If you want to find blue

Look for it in the hydrangeas and coleus

Lining the path of the garden walk.

If you want to find blue

Let the giant blue poppies

Transport you to the tops of the Himalayas.

If you want to find blue

Come to Longwood Gardens

And enjoy the Winter Blues Festival.

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Bells, Balloons, and Books

Posted on March 1, 2018 by rosecappelli

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I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Today marks the start of my fourth year of participation in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. I went back and forth about joining in this year, mostly because of mid-March travel plans, but then there were those encouraging posts from fellow slicers, a reminder that my OLW (momentum) says I should, and, well…here I am. Looking forward to reading about and learning about all of you!

 

The bells announced my entrance into the Newtown Bookshop on Monday evening. It was my first time in this book store (but won’t be my last), and my first book launch event (but not for my book). The balloons on the table confirmed that I was probably in the right place. If that weren’t enough, the cake, decorated with the cover image of Brave Clara Barton by Frank Murphy, nailed it.

I’m never quite sure about traffic, so I was one of the first to arrive. That gave me plenty of time to browse, pick up a few new titles, and chat with Frank. In a short time many people had gathered – fellow authors and would-be authors, family, friends, colleagues, and most of all, many of Frank’s students and former students. There were plenty of hugs and congratulations and introductions as everyone gathered to hear the story behind the story.

Frank spoke passionately about the research he conducted and his opportunities to “touch” history, both literally and figuratively. All eyes were on him as he read the book aloud, capturing the minds and imaginations of the audience. It was clear from the very beginning of the evening that although Frank is a colleague, friend, husband, father, and author, he is most definitely a teacher.

As he was wrapping up the presentation, Frank shared the books of other authors from the area, many of whom were part of the audience. The whole experience was truly a celebration of books and authors! What better way to spend a Monday evening?

 

 

 

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In Her Honor

Posted on February 13, 2018 by rosecappelli

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Most of this content appeared in a post from February, 2014 on an old website. Although she passed away in 1993, today marks my mother’s birthday, so I decided to repeat it here in her honor.

My mother always seemed to have an eye for fashion, and also a bargain! She appreciated well-made clothing, and when she found a coat or a skirt or a dress she liked, she would keep visiting it in the store until the price was right before she bought it. She didn’t get upset if the item sold, she just said another bargain would come along eventually.

My mother loved hats! She always had a hat to go with any special outfit, or maybe it was the hat that made any outfit special. I remember one outfit in particular – an olive green skirt and top with matching shoes that she accented with a leopard stole. Of course she also had a pillbox-style olive hat that completed the outfit. It was the special touch that she added last before going out.

In addition to hats, she always wore gloves – white cotton gloves, black suede gloves, red leather gloves of all different lengths. Some stopped at the wrist, while others reached father up the arm or sometimes to the elbow. I remember watching her one Christmas Eve as she painstakingly sewed colorful star-shaped sequins onto a pair of long black cotton gloves before going to church for midnight Mass.

Both of my parents were part-time professional musicians who played violin in the city’s symphony orchestra.  One of my fondest memories is watching my mother get dressed on concert nights. She had beautiful silver hair that she always had styled on the afternoon of the night of the concert.  It contrasted sharply with, but at the same time complemented, her long black dress. I would sit on the edge of the bed and watch as she applied her make-up and jewelry, and by the time we had to leave for the concert she was truly a vision.

My mother, the fashionista. Fond memories, indeed. I’ll be wearing a hat this week in her honor.

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Sela and Cecil

Posted on February 10, 2018 by rosecappelli

I’m participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s Valentiny contest. Entries must be related to Valentine’s Day, include a character who is hopeful, and be 214 words or less. Here’s my entry:

Sela and Cecil  (214 words)

by Rose Cappelli

        Sela lived with an ordinary family in an ordinary house in an ordinary town. But Sela was far from ordinary. She dressed in superhero outfits, ate avocado and cream cheese sandwiches, and collected cardboard cutouts of cats. But despite being a bit quirky, Sela had a heart full of love that she hoped to share with a special friend, especially since it was almost Valentine’s Day. Perhaps a pet, her parents suggested.

At the pet store, Sela had high hopes for the hedgehog, but he was too hard to hold. The capybara looked promising, but she wanted to bring her whole clan. The tarantula was tempting, but a bit too terrifying, even for Sela.

Sela was about to give up hope when she spotted a sign in the shop window across the street:

Valentine’s Day Special

Magically Magical Cecil

Needs Lots of Love

        Sela raced over. She could hardly believe her eyes. There sat a sea serpent lawn decoration with an enormous head, eight arms for hugging, and an adventurous grin. He might be made of metal, but to Sela he was perfect, and hopefully magical. Sela wrapped her pink and red scarf around his neck and whispered, “I love you!” And with that, Sela and Cecil flew off to find extraordinary adventures together.

 

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A Perfect Visit

Posted on January 30, 2018 by rosecappelli

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I sat on the end of the couch watching my new grandson, Alex, snuggle on the shoulder of his proud Pappy. A perfect tiny fist curled around Allan’s shirt, as if to say this is something special to hold onto. Occasionally, Alex’s lower lip would move in that special rhythm of sucking. Later…now was cuddle time for dreaming. Soft sounds of contentment mingled with the surrounding conversation. I found it hard to look away from this wonder of love and hope and grace.

Just beyond the couch my son was deep in lunchtime preparations. He chopped, diced, sliced and sautéed. I wondered when he managed to learn what those words even meant, let alone how to perform them. He brought us up to date on his job, his friends, and future plans. In no time at all we were treated to freshly prepared pasta primavera and homemade meatballs.

My daughter and daughter-in-law checked out the nursery and shared ideas about books and new Netflix series.

I joined the conversations and savored my turn with the cuddle-bug. But mostly I sat and watched and listened, taking in the pure joy that comes from spending an afternoon with those you love.

It was the perfect visit.

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