TAW W4 A3: Letter from 8-year-old Alicia to me at 38

Week 4 assignment 3 September 17, 2009

Write a letter from me at 8 to me at 39… what would I tell myself… what were my favorite things…

1979 – I was 8 years old… 3rd or 4th grade… I loved my doll Natalie… my best friend was Val… I loved hanging with her when I was allowed outside to play… Josie would be turning 3 - - my brother would have been 9… I imagine I loved watching how happy Josie was ALL THE TIME and probably how envious and jealous I was because she got to have a childhood. She got to be free – innocent – have fun… she looked so happy – always smiling I can see her now in her little yellow dress always smiling – so cute… so much fun… its hard to remember being happy as a child… I don’t believe I was happy.

Dear Alicia,

Wow… you’re 38 years old… you’re a woman now… look at how tall you have grown. You look so different… you are beautiful… you have tons of books… ME I am still so skinny – you’re sooooooo lucky…

I have been reading a lot about your life in your blogs. You have had an interesting life… you have a daughter… wow – she’s really pretty. How did she get that good hair? I am 8 years old and Fabio is 9 – and little Josie is 3… I watch her a lot - - I take care of her and protect her. She is so cute~

What’s it like to be a woman…to be a mommy? I don’t think I will ever have children they look like a lot of work… and I don’t really like them.

So you’re a writer now? That’s really nice… I don’t have a favorite book… I don’t like to read –I like to write… I keep a diary… (in my mind I just drifted to a memory of when I wrote a letter to oprah… I wonder what was in that letter- - Ely was like 16 – me I was 14… 1985… jr. high school – I hated school – I must have written about how lonely and unhappy I was… I must have wrote how I was beat… I must have pleaded with oprah to come save me…to come help me...to take me out of my home. I remember the letter being many pages… purple paper…)

Are you happy? Do you ever feel like you want to escape? Will I like being an adult?
Lee I am so happy you are so successful and are doing what you love – I hope to have a full life like you. To fall in love - - to make all my dreams come true… I hope to one day be just like you… please write me back… Alicia

SIDE NOTE: THIS GOING BACK STUFF… CAN BE REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE…

TAW W4 A2: Dream House~

Week 4 assignment 2 September 17, 2009

In this exercise I was asked to describe my ideal environment… is it a small town, in the country, swanky, cozy city… yeah… aside from the brownstone I’ve always wanted on 119th in Harlem… My ideal environment is moving to the Dominican Republic.

I was asked to draw an image or find a clip - - so this is what my house will look like on the inside…

My ideal environment is a country home in the Dominican Republic… a spacious villa, two floors – with a courtyard… water fountain…gardens… flowers – fruit – veggies… and an incredible office with a view of the mountains and water… fresh air… sounds of nature… peaceful… a space full of love that anyone who enters can feel it automatically… a pool for Courtney… a pool table for lulu… my back yard will have a labyrinth so that I can leave negative energy outside of my sanctuary… the NYC Latina Writers group will come spend a week with me yearly so we can write, meditate… and just BE STILL… Peace and love is my ideal environment. Ideal because I love the SUMMER… I like it HOT… I love the sun… I love the sun setting - -I love feeling warm…

Yeah just like that~

TAW Week Four Assignment 1: Letter to me at age 80

Today I am reflecting… REVEALING MYSELF…looking back at my journey… what I have learned and want for my life. And realized that today its important that I FINISH what I start. So I am finishing posting my artist way journey in hopes that whatever journey you are on you too will finish it~

With love,
Alicia

Week 4 Assignment 1 September 15, 2009

Assignment is to DESCRIBE myself at 80… AQUI ESTOY… Me at 80 years old… what did I do after 50 that I enjoyed? Write a letter from me at 80 to the Alicia who is 38… what would I tell myself - - what interest would I urge myself to pursue – what dreams would you encourage?

Hmmmmmm…..I dedicated ten years to successfully launching women and teen leadership organizations throughout Latin America… be specific…

Dear Alicia,

I am so proud of you.. I am proud of the work you are doing to help women throughout the world… you have dedicated your life to serving others when you could have easily made another choice… you could have chosen YOURSELF… chosen to be selfish…
The Afrolatinos project has opened quite a few doors for so many people – you and Renzo should be proud – you have shared all you’ve been through… and all you’ve learned honestly and openly with everyone you’ve met. Your life has been great - - beautiful… FULL and Courtney… what a tremendous job you have done raising her… she is a kind soul… with a great heart… you have taught her well… her work in the world has changed the way adults see children… with more respect for their interests and opinions… you are a great team…

You Alicia are LOVE… I love who you are and honor you… you have a huge heart - - your family, friends, and lulu love you deeply… thank you for coming into the world and for the legacy you have left…

Never stop dreaming – never stop reaching –never stop giving – never stop living - - never stop learning - - never stop LOVING….

The Daughters of the Revolution… by far your greatest work - - you FINALLY finished that novel… and it did turn into a movie… you won an Oscar for it… your first novel - - first film… you have broken so many barriers. They say you are a role model; they say you are a leader. I say you only did what you were called to do. It is an honor knowing you. Love always, Alicia

Fabric of Faith~

Comadres according to most dictionaries is defined as the name a godfather and godmother address the mother of their godson or goddaughter, and vice versa… ellos son Comadres~

They are Co-mothers~

LAS COMADRES, which is headed by Nora De Hoyos Comstock and a team of Comadres nationwide and internationally have taken this definition one step further. Las Comadres is a nationally known Latina organization whose aim is to connect and empower women to be active in the growing Latino/Hispanic communities through online and face-to-face networks, community building, with discussions on culture, education, and technology for almost 25 years.

Nora Comstock flew to New York to celebrate three incredible women who are participating in the Downy Touch of Comfort’s project: QUILTS FOR KIDS. On May 4th, 2010 I was invited to join Las Comadres and learn about this special project. In honor of mother’s day, (10) New York Comadres met to share stories on the wonderful work they are doing to serve the community. We met at the East Harlem Café where I listened to beautiful quilting stories and how proud they were to show the rest of us what they have done.




All the women came together to learn from (3) Comadres how they too could get involved with the Downy Touch of Comfort program. Quilt for Kids is a nonprofit organization affiliated with Downy… their mission is to make quilts for children in hospitals all over the country. The Quilts for Kids organization has donated 60,000 quilts, Downy has committed to 10,000 quilts and Las Comadres from all over the country will be donating 100 quilts. This beautiful collaboration Nora Diaz says is all about “giving these children a little a touch of comfort.” Diaz shared her passion for wanting to create something beautiful for these kids who are in hospitals, those who need special care and the importance of being a part of a project that makes a child feel better.




Nora Comstock spent some time talking about the importance of this initiative informing us that the Children’s Miracle Network has reported that there are 6 million children who are in hospitals across the country. She encourages all of us to come together and join Las Comadres in this Hispanic Outreach saying, “it’s a sense of giving back to the community through us.”

I asked Nora Diaz what she wanted the kids to feel when they received the quilt she making for them, “as I was making my quilt I was blessing it. I hope my quilt goes to a child who’s going to get better when they receive it. I pray that a child responds well to medication. I want this child to know there is life after being ill.” She hopes that each child who receives a quilt will get better – when they have that quilt wrapped around them. That the quilts bring them love, hope, faith and comfort.

How to get involved:

• By donating fabric – to quilts for kids
• If you cant make one – donate one… buy the fabric and send it to quilts for kids… buy bright colors, think of things that kids like love fairies, trucks, princesses, Disney themed, sport or superhero themed designs that will brighten a child’s day.



There are 3 ways you can bring this project to your community:

1. Sew a quilt
2. You can get a quilt from downy.com
3. Buy a bottle of Touch of Comfort


I am very proud to be a member of the Las Comadres organization and urge you to join this effort of bringing comfort to children~

For more information on the Quilts for Kids program: www.quiltsforkids.org

For more information on Las Comadres please visit: www.lascomadres.org