Fears for Characters by Juliana Aragon Fatula
5.23.2018
It’s the time in Spring when my peonies, iris, poppies,
gladiolas bloom in time for Memorial Day and decorating the graves of my loved
ones who have gone to the other side. It’s always been my habit to use fresh
cut flowers from my garden instead of plastic or silk flowers; they don’t last
as long, as fake flowers but they’re real and beautiful.
gladiolas bloom in time for Memorial Day and decorating the graves of my loved
ones who have gone to the other side. It’s always been my habit to use fresh
cut flowers from my garden instead of plastic or silk flowers; they don’t last
as long, as fake flowers but they’re real and beautiful.
This Memorial Day I pay tribute to my Father, Julian
Aragon, a WWII veteran; and my Mother, Louise Aragon, the strongest woman I’ve
ever known. They taught me to garden houseplants and trees, vegetables, fruit,
and herbs. I always took my skills for granted until I realized not everyone
has a green thumb let alone two.
Aragon, a WWII veteran; and my Mother, Louise Aragon, the strongest woman I’ve
ever known. They taught me to garden houseplants and trees, vegetables, fruit,
and herbs. I always took my skills for granted until I realized not everyone
has a green thumb let alone two.
My son has taken an interest in gardening and so I
pass on what my parents and their parents before taught them. My husband loves
gardening and landscaping. My yard is an oasis I call my Chicana Garden.
Sometimes I take for granted my beautiful yard. We have garden parties and BBQ
and my guest remind me how blessed I am to live with my Garden of Eden.
pass on what my parents and their parents before taught them. My husband loves
gardening and landscaping. My yard is an oasis I call my Chicana Garden.
Sometimes I take for granted my beautiful yard. We have garden parties and BBQ
and my guest remind me how blessed I am to live with my Garden of Eden.
I take
photos as the garden grows and blooms. In the winter time I study the photos to
brainstorm what changes I could make. My garden has given me hours upon hours
of enjoyment. The scent of fresh flowers, the hum of bees, the music of the
birds singing sweet melodies and splashing in the bird bath. The chimes ring in
the breeze and I’m transported to a peaceful place to write.
photos as the garden grows and blooms. In the winter time I study the photos to
brainstorm what changes I could make. My garden has given me hours upon hours
of enjoyment. The scent of fresh flowers, the hum of bees, the music of the
birds singing sweet melodies and splashing in the bird bath. The chimes ring in
the breeze and I’m transported to a peaceful place to write.
I grew up in the sixties and seventies. A flowerchild.
I’ve always loved growing plants. My father raised chickens for the fertilizer
for his garden. We always had fresh eggs. I remember one time I walked outside
with my b rother to feed the chickens and we found a huge snake in the yard. I
was a child, so it frightened me.
I’ve always loved growing plants. My father raised chickens for the fertilizer
for his garden. We always had fresh eggs. I remember one time I walked outside
with my b rother to feed the chickens and we found a huge snake in the yard. I
was a child, so it frightened me.
I’ve been afraid of snakes since that day. I screamed.
My Father came running, told my brother to bring him the shovel. My brother and
I stood and watched my Father slay the monster. He hacked it to pieces and threw
it back in the river. Our house sat near the river and we saw snakes, but this
snake was huge and brightly colored. We almost stepped on it thinking it was
our garden hose until it slithered and hissed.
My Father came running, told my brother to bring him the shovel. My brother and
I stood and watched my Father slay the monster. He hacked it to pieces and threw
it back in the river. Our house sat near the river and we saw snakes, but this
snake was huge and brightly colored. We almost stepped on it thinking it was
our garden hose until it slithered and hissed.
You want to know what I did with that fear of snakes?
I put it into my character’s psyche. Made the shero into a coward with snakes.
Gave her nightmares of snakes covering her and hissing with their forked
tongues. I wrote about a fear I know and understand very well.
I put it into my character’s psyche. Made the shero into a coward with snakes.
Gave her nightmares of snakes covering her and hissing with their forked
tongues. I wrote about a fear I know and understand very well.
I’m not sure why
my fear of snakes is so intense, except I grew up listening to mi abuela,
Phoebe, telling me Bible stories. The Garden of Eden and the serpent. I know
some p people love snakes. I do not. I can’t look at them without having snake
nightmares that evening. The snake, the serpent, temptation, sin, evil, devil.
I’m a grown ass woman afraid of garden snakes.
my fear of snakes is so intense, except I grew up listening to mi abuela,
Phoebe, telling me Bible stories. The Garden of Eden and the serpent. I know
some p people love snakes. I do not. I can’t look at them without having snake
nightmares that evening. The snake, the serpent, temptation, sin, evil, devil.
I’m a grown ass woman afraid of garden snakes.
Lizards, geckos, iguanas don’t scare
me, but snakes symbolize evil in my psyche. I know snakes are good for the
garden and eat bugs. I’d rather have the bugs than the snake. Fear of snakes
hasn’t handicapped me in anyway. Thanks Grandma for putting the fear of snakes
into my head. I think nature and wildlife are beautiful but snakes, not in a
million years would I find a snake charming.
me, but snakes symbolize evil in my psyche. I know snakes are good for the
garden and eat bugs. I’d rather have the bugs than the snake. Fear of snakes
hasn’t handicapped me in anyway. Thanks Grandma for putting the fear of snakes
into my head. I think nature and wildlife are beautiful but snakes, not in a
million years would I find a snake charming.
Love your garden, flowers and stories!
Thank you sister.