dragonflies and goosebumps

blessed, inspired and seduced

Here I am. Sitting in silence.
Watching you spread out.
Vast. Welcoming. Majestic.

My heart weeps. We almost never met.

As the train moves forward I realize
These eyes have barely seen your colors.
There is so much that I’ve yet to understand.
Still, for the first time, it all makes sense.

Everything that is you is so grown-up, yet entirely new.
I close my eyes to the world and feel you with my heart.
As I open up my senses, I recognize you within me
Through the colors of your nature,
your voice in the softness of your wind,
and the sense of adventure in the wildness of your sea.

I ingest your sensuality through all my senses.
Traces of your character frolic in my tongue,
through every morsel,
every single drop of water, beer or wine.

Blessed, inspired, seduced…
is how you make me feel.
Happy. Foolishly in love.

Titles are no longer of importance.
Ever after is not a must.
Only now is what is true.

Sing to me for as long as you will,
and I will vow, unconditionally, to follow your tune.

Mel

(Source: dragonfliesandgoosebumps.wordpress.com)

i’m liking what i see… a lot!

Hello! Yes, I’m back.

I know, I know. I said I’d be here every day, but I haven’t shown up. I don’t want to make excuses, that’s certainly lame, but I do want to tell the truth. I’ve been busy. I’ve been fascinated. I’ve been overwhelmed. I’ve been hungry for much more.

I finally made it to Madrid, and I’m in love. I’m madly in love with this city, my school, my new career, the simple life – MY simple life, the freedom, the challenge, the uncertainty, the unexpected. Everything. I’m taking it all in and loving every single minute of it. But I also have been writing.

I know, I know. I haven’t been sharing. And that’s partially true, and partially not. The thing is I’ve been doing most of my writing in Spanish. Why? Well, there’s one important reason for that. Actually, that reason turns into two more. The thing is I’ve been writing mostly, if not everything, in Spanish. Right before I left home, I created a private Yahoo! group for me and my home friends. Through this group, I try to tell them about all of my Madrid adventures. We comment back and forth and share great laughs thanks to the funny things that happen to me on a daily basis. Even though I sometimes struggle with keeping the whole message in Spanish, it’s important that I do because not all of my friends are fluent in English.

Furthermore, I’m writing in Spanish because I’m afraid I may forget my native tongue. Since arriving to Madrid, I’ve been mostly speaking English. Unbelievable, right? Well, the thing is, I’m training to become an English teacher for foreign language-speaking adults. Naturally, the classes I attend to as a student are taught in English. British English. Almost all of my classmates are native English speakers, coming from America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. There’s only one other person who’s first language is not English – a student from Bulgaria. Now, all of my students speak Spanish. But, as an English teacher, I’m not allowed to speak Spanish to them. So, my Spanish speaking time is almost strictly reduced to the times I call my family and friends from home, with the exception of the few words I exchange with people around town.

Finally, I am writing for the November challenge of National Novel Writing Month. However, the story I’m writing, although it is a paranormal story, it somehow seems to me that it’s best told in Spanish.

So, as you can see, I have more or less kept my promise of writing something daily. Proof of it is the publication of my Yahoo! group posts on my Spanish blog (http://fantasiayotrasluces.wordpress.com). But I know that I could be doing a better effort. And that is why I’m here tonight.

Thank you all for stopping by every once in a while and leaving a comment here or there. I haven’t been ignoring you. I wouldn’t dare. It’s just that I decided to venture out for a while, leave my own shell, to see what’s out there… And so far I’m liking what I see… A lot!

XOXO
Mel

(Source: dragonfliesandgoosebumps.wordpress.com)

let’s write!

When I first came to Madrid last April, I fell in love with the city and its magic. But I also fell in love with myself in this city. I was a writer again, inspired and eager to put into paper all the sparks coming from my mind. I can’t recall ever being inspired by a place. My writing mostly stems from feelings and emotions, either good or bad. When I left, I experienced a sense of withdrawal and sadness. Already missing my muse and who I had gotten to be, if only for a little while.

The decision to move to Madrid came two months after that. It mostly had to do with a need to have some major changes in my life (understatement of the century!). But the most important change is the fact that I want to write. I need to write if only to not have an unanswered ‘What if?’. Amidst the chaos of packing, moving and everything it entails, I almost forgot the one thing that started it all.

Luckily for me, I had to stop at a Borders a few days before heading here. I was browsing entertainment and fashion magazines, when I realized I was about to give my best shot at a new career. Well, in my old career, the smart cheap way to improve your value and expertise, as well as stay current, is to read lots of industry articles. So I thought, why not apply the same concept to this new career. I know I seldomly did it before, but I would now be reading about something I truly like. I couldn’t pass the chance.

I dropped the copies of Rolling Stone and Interview Magazine I’d picked, and replaced them with The Writer Magazine, Poets & Writers and Writer’s Digest. And I’ve been reading a bit. Now, their subscriptions don’t come cheap, of course. But the lack of make up and perfume ads might be responsible for that.

Reading these magazines, I stumbled upon things such as NaNoWriMo (see previous post), and articles on The Pros and Cons of Writer Blogs. Wether it’s grammar help, new writing trends and techniques, character sketching or keeping up with a personal deadline, I solemnly vow to seek professional writing guidance, at least once a week. I also solemnly vow to take my writing seriously, as I would with any other career, even if I’m not getting paid… yet. I promise to work on a personal action plan and stick to it. I promise to write something, anything, every single day. I promise to finish the outline for Cardy’s story. I promise to write a novel in 30 days.

And all of this I promise only to myself (Yes dear God, I promise it to you too!)

Best wishes!
Mel

(Source: dragonfliesandgoosebumps.wordpress.com)

hey-mr-dj:

(:

girl in the city

This is my third day (night?) in Madrid.

On the first day, I took it easy, only going to El Corte Inglés, to get a litter box for my baby Blue, and to dinner at a friend’s.

Yesterday was lost to sleeping, due to a heavy case of jet lag. Of course, then I spent the whole night awake, staring at the ceiling. I still don’t know if what kept me awake was really the jet lag, or all the noise made by the couple having sex next door. Yes, staying at a hostel is as un-fancy as it gets. But, hey! It’s very clean, and I have my own private bathroom.

Today, on the other hand, I spent searching for a place to live. Many, many, many websites post multiple real estate alternatives - in Spanish. And you would think that, since Spanish is my first language, that would work in my favor. Right? Wrong. America does not speak the same Spanish spoken in Spain. Seriously. But I’m working on it. In the meantime, I’ve decided to hire a real estate agent, if only for the sake of sanity.

On a much, much brighter side, I began working on a serious outline for my book project, and I am Oh-so-very excited! I enrolled on National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which will take place this November. And what exactly is NaNoWriMo? Go check it out at their website. But let me just tell you, I think it’s a great challenge and excellent way to get some real writing done and throw procrastination out the window. So I am going to resurrect Cardy’s story but with a new, and hopefully improved, twist. Watch out for that, as I’ll definitely be sharing.

Be back soon,
Mel

(Source: dragonfliesandgoosebumps.wordpress.com)

where my life fits

I’m at the end of my vacation, where I only have 14 days left, before I move to Madrid. Accordingly, I’m back to boxes, sorting, saving, storing and throwing out. As I look around, I think about how people always wonder at how their entire lives can supposedly fit into a couple of boxes. I, on the other hand, know my life is not measured in terms of what goes or stays in a box. My life is measured in terms of me – of where I’ve been, of where I am and of what I do with it while I’m here. My life only fits in my heart.

It took me a while to understand how it has been possible for me to easily part with so many belongings. I’d thought I would have a harder time of letting go of those material things that I had collected until now. Hard work, effort and money were given in exchange for them. Yet, I let go of them easily and quickly. Today I understood why. The biggest, most important and valuable possessions will remain with me forever: lessons learned; friendships earned; challenges conquered and love exchanged. No box in the world could possibly fit these invaluables. No man could offer me money enough for me to give them up. No other human being could sport them with so much dignity and respect. My life is made of these. My heart is shaped by them. They will ensure my future to be plentiful.

I am whole.

Mel

(Source: dragonfliesandgoosebumps.wordpress.com)

(via thetaoofdana)

A perfect day in Culebra, Puerto Rico

i sea…

I laid eyes on you

and knew it was a matter of fate.

My whole being wanted to reach out to

touch you…

breathe you…

Before I could speak your name,

I knew your face.

I sea…

see…

myself in your eyes

and crave your embrace.

I hear you whisper

sweet little things

in my ear:

Droplets of Truth.

Pieces of ME.

I am your child.

Your daughter.

Your friend.

You are my shelter.

My temple.

My guide.

I am with you,

I am home.

Mel

where I’ve been

This was originally written on Friday, August 13, 2010.

For the past five and a half years, I’ve been working at the top Banking institution in Puerto Rico as a personal financial planner. It’s been one hell of a ride. Two months ago, I decided it wasn’t enough. I want more of this life. So I put my apartment up for sale, in preparation for the step I took today. Who would’ve thought that, in the state of the global economy we currently live in, it was gonna sell so fast. Well, it did.

In an astonishing total of three weeks, my apartment was optioned. Sixteen days after that, it was sold. The world was moving me in the direction I asked for, in fast forward. Yet, not a moment too soo

Today was my last day at work. For years, you dream of the moment when you can actually let go. It always seems so far away, so unattainable. Then, suddenly, it’s not. You take the leap. You let g

In taking this step, I learned more about people, and myself, than I ever thought possible. When you remain true to yourself, even when you’re not paying attention, other people take notice. And an impressive amount of them truly do appreciate it. I feel blessed to have met and worked with such amazing human beings. I felt humbled, and joyful, for all the kind words bestowed upon me. I feel grateful for being able to leave on such a positive and happy note.

A chapter is over, and a new one has just begun. Retirement? Right, not there yet. Financial independence? One day… soon. Mental and emotional freedom? That’s more like it. Come what may. I’m ready. I’m showing up.

Madrid?… HERE I COME!

Mel