Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Bohemian Toast...

There won't be sequins or beaded gowns... No glitter or noisemakers at midnight. We won't be making out in public either...There won't be a cab or limo rides or achy feet after a long night of walking and dancing my love. This year we will trade the gowns for flannel and I will wear a tiara in my pj's while you once again will steal the blanket as we dig into some Chinese take out and watch New Yorkers battle the winter air for the ball to drop... 
And I once again will say... 
I just don't get it.


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We will look into each others eyes clinking our glasses and we will say to each other...
I love you and here's to another year.




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Maia dressing up her baby sister... Rock on Mia Stella.





Once again I have transformed and reinvented myself and I am not done. I want more. Motherhood does not define me neither being a wife, a daughter or friend. I am ready to dig dip... Dipper than ever before.




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Things that I learned in 2011...


You know you really love someone when you whisper a little prayer for their safe return each time they leave your side...


Letting go... things like hurt, shame, pain and relationships that don't work.


My camera will take me to places... 
Many places...


I learned how to let my oldest child fly away... 


I learned boundaries...


I learned to mourn while I celebrate life...  


Last year Maia and I visited The Paris Market and placed our New Years resolutions on their store display... 
We have turned it into a tradition because we were back...


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Plenty to celebrate after the1st of January I don't plan to stop there... Three Kings Day on the 6th of January or the Chinese New Year on January the 23rd... 


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******

This poem is very famous around the world mostly in Spanish speaking countries. I remember when I was growing up, we use to gather around the radio to listen to its broadcast every New Year’s Eve at the hit of midnight. It was written by Guillermo Aguirre Fierro in 1915. From there it has become a tradition of this night and to this date, it is still being broadcast. It is really beautiful. Here is the English version. Although translating a poem into another language is a task, the essence can be felt.

A Bohemian Toast
Around a cantina table
on a winter’s night
rejoicefully were sharing
six happy bohemians
The echos of their laughter were escaping
and, from that quiet town
they were going to interrupt the imposing
and profund silence
The smoke of aromatic cigarettes
in spirals was raising to the sky
symbolizing, as it dissipated into nothing
the life of dreams … the dreams of life
I neglected to tell you, in that evening
this bohemian group
among laughter and sorrow, were celebrating
the happy arrival of the new year
Suddenly, a manly voice said
It is Midnight, comrades
Let us all toast for the year
that has become part of the Dead
Let us toast to the year that starts
May it brings us sweet dreams
not sour grief
Let us toast this time to the hope
that Life throws at us and the pains alleviate
I toast that, in my existence
already riddled with violence and vengeance
if, in my heaven, from yours – clean and divine
would shine but
a star … my hope
I drink and toast to my past,
which was of light, of love, and happiness,
and in which the gorgeous foreheads
of seductive ladies
had joined mine
I toast to Yesterday that, with sorrow
today covers with darkness my poor heart
scatters its comfort
bringing into my mind the sweetness
of joy, of tenderness, of good fortune, and concerns
I toast that in my mind
sprout a torrent of divine inspiration,
that the chords of my lyre vibrate
the verse that yearns, sings, and fall in love
I toast that my verses
reach the center of the woman that I love
for that with interest my passion pays off
for that I get intoxicated with the nectar of her kisses
Continued the barrage of meaningless phrases
of those so human
and, after each phrase of ardent enthusiasm
applause would grow
They toasted to the Motherland, to the flowers
to the chaste loves and to heated passions
that fill with roses the mud of pleasure
Only one toast was missing, Arturo’s
the pure bohemian of noble heart
he stated that he only wanted
to steal the inspiration from Sadness
And this way he spoke, with inspired intensity
I toast to the woman, yet not to the one
in which you find solace in sadness
not to the one that gives us her charms
when you kiss her soft and scented curls
I do not toast to her … No, comrades
Sorry that this time I don’t please you
I toast to the woman, but only to one
to the one that offered me delights
and engulfed me with her kisses
I toast to the woman that tucked me in the crib
I toast to the woman that taught me from childhood
the value of profound and truthful love
I toast to the woman who cuddled me in her arms
and that bit by bit gave me her entire heart
To that golden and blessed old lady
that with her blood she offered me life
to the one that was the light of my soul
today I toast to my Mother, to my darling Mother
To that sad old woman that lives and cries
and to Heavens implores that I return
to my Mother, bohemians, who is the sweetness
poured into my sorrow and, in this night, a star
who wishes that I soon be with her
The bohemian became silent
and not a word spoiled the sentiment
born from pain and tenderness
and it appeared that, over that atmosphere,
was immensely floating …
A Poem of Love and Sorrow


Happy New Years Peeps and Stay Sweet!!!

21 comments:

  1. i love this post - the photos of your daughters and the paris market with new years resolutions. bravo! i applaud your decision to stay in & to celebrate what's truly important. i felt at times that you were reading my mind & oh loved the photos of CATS. happy new year to you & yours xx

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  2. Have a great New Year! I love that toast!

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  3. new blog follower from the blog hop at chubby cheeks thinks.
    would love for you to stop by my page
    thischattanoogamommysaves.blogspot.com

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  4. have a great new years eve!!! May the Lord bless you and your beautiful family! Dont forget to send me your address via email so when I return from vacation you can receive your gift! big hugs!

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  5. Love. Love. Love.

    Xx Another Year. More Love...

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  6. My first time reading this poem. I love it.

    I hope you will have a wonderful time with your family.

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  7. I hear you about having a mellow New Year's Eve! Everything changes when you have kids! My husband will be working tonight and if I don't end up falling asleep when I put my kids to bed (my three year old insists that I lay next to him while he falls asleep..something we are working on!)...I'll probably be on fb or watching a youtube video while having a glass of wine when it turns 2012...hopefully my husband will come home before then so we can share the moment together!

    Loved your pictures. :)

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  8. Amen on staying in tonight! We usually have people over our house every year, but this year I don't even think we are doing that!

    New follower from the restless blog hop....love your blog!

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  9. Wonderful post and photos! Yes, we will be staying in tonight, too, and not even waiting for midnight to be asleep.
    May God richly bless you and yours in the new year!

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  10. Cheers to you amiga! Wishing you and your family health, happiness and laughter in 2012. I'm looking forward to being amazed and inspired by your continued evolution.

    Luv ya! xoxo

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  11. I am a new follower, love your blog, would love to get more followers at mine, please visit me www.armytankerswife.com

    Happy New Year

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  12. Lovely, poem. I always stay in on New Year Eve, I held alcohol free parties for the youngsters for years, now I don't even stay awake for the ball drop. Great post.

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  13. Joy to you and your familia, Adriana! It was a great, but crazy year. Thank you for all your inspired words and beautiful photography. Happy New Year!!! Here's to 2012!

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  14. such a lovely opst..i love the pics and so beautiful

    lets follow eachother :)

    cheers
    hanz
    www.fashionistaera.blogspot.com

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  15. following you from Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop! would love if you followed back http://our365days.blogspot.com

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  16. The photos are gorgeous!! Thanks for stopping over and joining me in the hop!!

    Mary
    =)

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  17. Hey There, I found you
    VIA the New Years Blog hop;
    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
    I'm now following you every which way I could find
    hope you can take a sec to check me out
    @ http://krystylco.blogspot.com/
    I'd love another follower <3

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  18. Very introspective- great photos too!!

    Hello from Australia!
    We are trying to regrow our family friendly blog too with the New Year just underway!!
    I’m following you now, and hope you’ll stop by and visit our blog sometime too!
    http://beourbest.blogspot.com/

    Euan

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  19. I gotta say I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't see it a necessity to
    party it up for New Years Eve. Chinese take-out and a couple rented dvd's were all I needed as well.

    Re-inventing yourself - right there with ya sista! I find the only appealing excitement of the beginning of a new year is the collective energy of starting fresh!
    LOVE the Bohemian Toast! May I borrow it for my blog? and I'll link it back to yours)Wishing you the best for 2012 !!!

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  20. Love the poetry- and adore the 3rd picture with the astonishing look of discovery... Excellent blog- I'm a new follower. I found you through the "Mingle With Us" Blog Hop, glad I did!
    Tracy

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