Cenizo Journal Fall 2015 | Page 7

C enizo Not es by Carolyn Brown Zniewski, publisher and Danielle Gallo, editor L et me introduce you to Rocky, the rocking, reading rabbit I spot- ted up in McCamey about a year ago. He is on the front cover with Daisy, the young read- er. We’ve finally got him ready to go to work. This issue is full to the brim with poetry and fiction. As far as I know, it is the first time we have had a majority of fiction in the Cenizo. We have some good stories for you. This is a good time of year to think about reading. The holidays are coming soon and if you are looking for gift ideas there is no bet- ter place to go than a local bookstore. One good thing about books is that you don’t have to worry about size or color. New or used doesn’t matter that much either. Some of the most wonderful gifts can be used books. Big Bend is populated with dozens of authors, our own Jim Glendinning has writ- ten several and has a new one on the way. Lonn Taylor, who has written for us in the past, has a few under his belt as well. There are mystery writers, historians, geologists, cookbook authors and autobiographers writ- ing here in West Texas. I think you could walk down any street in any town in the 432 area code and find a writer or two. This issue celebrates the poetry and short fiction of our area. Rocky is the Cenizo mascot. He sits under the trees in his special spot and reads and reads and reads. He doesn’t care how old or young you are, he’ll always find something good for you to read. Rocky recommends bookstores new and used and the libraries in just about every town. We are so bookish that many regular shops carry a small selection. Rocky says, “Make mine in print!” I am continually amazed at how I wake up one morn- ing after enduring an eternity of blazing hot summer days to find that it is simply autumn, as though someone bumped the cosmic thermostat and there it sits at a reasonable number. Suddenly all the flying pests are a lit- tle sluggish and easier to swat, though the wasps are busier than ever around the ripen- ing tuna. My brave little pomegranate bush put forth three fruits this year and I find myself checking their blush a dozen times a day— hesitant to pick them too soon, terrified of waiting too long. They are my favorite fruit here. The first sign of the fall for me is always the first time I notice the angle of the sun chang- ing in the sky, heading further south with all the summer birds, as though it too prefers to winter in Mexico. The porch is suddenly half- bright at midday as the light begins creeping toward the wall of the house, as though stretching in anticipation of keeping us a little warmer when we need it most. And though I miss the long lingering evenings as they short- en, I love the sense of exhilaration the morn- ing chill always brings me. More than any- thing, though, I love being able to leave the house in the middle of the day with the chil- dren. They are infinitely more likely to take naps when they haven’t been stuck indoors all day because of the heat. This is a special issue of Cenizo, in which we are showcasing some local talent in the arena of fiction and poetry. Though we do not ordi- narily print works of fiction, we do sometimes receive submissions that make us want to make an exception. I hope you enjoy a few good tales in the early autumn evening. Taste and See Bakery Thursdays 4 - 6pm • Organic spelt, hard white wheat berries. • Rye and kamut freshly milled in my stone burr mill and baked into delicious breads, pizza crusts, cookies and other goodies. • Stone ground flour milled to order for home bakers. West Texas Kodenkan Jiu-Jitsu We use no white flour or white sugar in our products A Traditional Martial Art Adults Only us on Facebook 802 E. Brown St. and Cockrell Call or Text Alpine 432-294-0162 432-386-3772 [email protected] 888.989.6900 432.371.2727 Terlingua, Texas FM 170 River and Mountain Bike Tours rentals & shuttles desertsportstx.com /desertsports AYN FOUNDATION (DAS MAXIMUM) ANDY WARHOL SUBSCRIPTIONS Cenizo Journal will be mailed direct for $25.00 annually. Make checks payable to: Cenizo Journal, P.O. Box 2025, Alpine, Texas 79831, or through Paypal at cenizojournal.com “The Last Supper” MARIA ZERRES “September Eleven” Brite Building 107-109 N Highland, Marfa SUBMISSION Deadline for advertising and editorial for the First Quarter 2016 issue: November 15, 2015. Art, photographic and literary works may be e-mailed to the Editor. For advertising rates or to place an ad, contact: [email protected] Open weekends noon to 5 pm For hours, please call: 432.729.3315 or visit www.aynfoundation.com Cenizo Fourth Quarter 2015 7