About…

I like: Lilacs, peach and white roses, lilies, pine trees, beautiful skies, stars, lightning bugs, languages, poetry and good books, long, pretentious letters, tea, music boxes, my guitar, watercolors, traveling, working outside, camping (and the activities included: hiking, canoeing, fishing), my TI-84 calculator, my garden, Grace…

I don’t like: Illogical arguments, strong perfume, big, smoggy cities, shopping (unless it’s Fleet Farm or Home Depot), photographers and the red alligator skin bag.

For those who are asking: Who on earth is Quixote? What’s with the poetry? and Why are you taking up a whole website for this?

“In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;
let your right hand display awesome deeds.”
Psalm 45:5

I borrow my surname from a favorite literary character of mine, namely Don Quixote de La Mancha from the like named Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes (see link on Library page). It is the tale of an aging, self-knighted hidalgo who, impelled by a library full of old books of glory and valor, sets out from the comforts of home on his faithful, but feeble steed, Rocinante. He rides forth on a mission to right wrongs and defend the defenseless. In a time where knights and ladies were a thing of the past, he is mocked and ridiculed by those who witness his awkward attempts at chivalry. It is quite natural to write him off as mad; sane people generally do not make a habit of attacking windmills and sheep. His simple-minded yet obedient “squire”, Sancho Panza, does his best to offer respectful advice, “Take care, good sir, those things over there are not giants but windmills.” The warnings are typically unheeded, and as the story progresses Sancho begins to catch the vision of his master. For those of you who have already read Don Quixote: no, I do not encourage anyone to slap on your grandfather’s antique collection of armor and ride out to challenge every ominous-looking figure in your path to a joust. However, Cervantes, while producing an amusing and well-written novel, recognized a societal decline in morals and noble character. I think the same is quite evident today, even centuries later. As the standards sink lower, things worth fighting for such as truth, love, and virtue become the strange and outlandish. If you are yet baffled by my Quixote reference, I’ll try to explain my purpose with a more familiar quote, found in the book of John.

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world cannot stand you.”
John 15:19

As far as the poetry goes, I really do not have an adequate reason as to why I am going to subjugate you to the exposure of my amateur verses. I love good poetry, I love attempting to write poetry, and I also find that taking the chance to laugh at myself (when reading it) helps keep me humble.

Why ladycarmenquixote.wordpress.com? In addition to playing my guitar, painting, poetry, gardening and various outdoors activities, I like to journal. It may be a sort of primitive activity, but the one I keep is not as much a log of daily activities but more of what God has been teaching, my prayers and my “big questions”. Often I over-analyze simple ideas and writing helps me organize my mind. Part of the reason for creating this site is to express my thoughts and questions in a more formal manner and, I hope, receive constructive feedback from minds of varying perspectives. That being said, I most would most greatly appreciate comments, questions of your own (not to mention corrections, if need be), etc. If not, and this turns into another one of my little thinking corners, I’m fine with that too!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Lady Carmen Quixote