About Carmy
I've always found myself either reading, writing or telling a story, and more recently, poetry penetrated into my life with intensity.
Then came a short story that seemed to want to go on and on... and turned into a book called The Six Knowings of ASAIRA!
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This book is where all my loves - the poems, the magic, the storytelling, the profound mysteries of life, the search for the Divine - intertwine alchemically and magically.
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Now the time has come to share that book, and I am so excited and grateful!​​
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I live in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada, with my husband, Antonio, and our dog, Milo.
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Below you'll find some short personal anecdotes.
That's what seems to have come instead of a traditional bio and is a work in progress.
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Thank you for visiting!!
Carmy
Maria del Carmen Stubbs: What's in a Name?
I was given the beautiful name Maria del Carmen when I was born in the UK to my loving parents Carmen and Denis, in that incredible time that were the Sixties. My parents called me Mari Carmen, although my dad pronounced it 'Mary' Carmen. My mother, being Spanish, kept the Spanish melody, speaking to my brother and I in her native language. My brother also had a Spanish name, Tomás, but we mostly pronounced as is the custom in English. When my brother started calling me by name as a toddler, Mari Carmen was apparently a mouthful... he shortened it and made it into one easy word: Carmy. I didn't use it myself until many years later... but that's another story...​
Maria Stubbs: Who's she?!
I have a memory of my first day at primary school. We were all given a box to put our pencils and crayons in, The teacher wanted to write our names on one of the sides of the box so we could find them easily. When she got to my box, she read my name out, Maria del Carmen Stubbs, and added, "That doesn't fit. Let's put Maria Stubbs." I'm not sure if she asked me if that was okay. But I do remember being a tremble and embarrassed about my strange, long name, so I gave a slow nod... and it happened: I suddenly turned into Maria Stubbs! Who's she?! From that day on, at school, with friends etc, I was Maria. No Carmen in sight.
Maria del Carmen: The Spanish Way
​Carmen, or Maria del Carmen, is a very popular name in Spain. Sometimes it´s shortened to Mari Carmen or Carmencita. "Maria del" is often added before a name in honour of the Virgin Mary, meaning "Mary of" and in some ways is not really the actual name. It's usually shortened to Mari, and other times dropped altogether. For example, my aunt was called Maria del Rosario, but everyone called her Rosario or Rosarín. My mother was always known as Carmen, and for the most part, I was, and still am, Mari Carmen.
​Our Lady of Carmen or Carmel has a big feast day in Spain every July 16th. All the Cármenes celebrate their Saint Day, which in the past was more important than celebrating your birthday. Nowadays, Spaniards get to celebrate both their Saint Day and Birthday. Nice!
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Las Cármenes in the Family and Lineage
In the photo you can see, left to right, the youngest Carmen (myself!) at that time, my Abuelita Carmen (my Spanish Grandmother, Carmen Martinez Sanz), and my Mama, Carmen Gómez Martínez.
There are other Cármenes in the family. There's my lovely cousin, Carmen Gómez Cayuelas, who's the last Carmen at the moment. And an aunt, who, had she lived, would have had the name my mother has, meaning my mother would not have been called Carmen, and I would probably have another name....
I'm curious to know more about my lineage, so lately I have been asking the family about my grandmother. There are some stories that I'm feeling to share.
Two Cármenes: My Abuelita & My Tía
​This beautiful photo is of my Abuelita Carmen (my Grandmother) and her sweet daughter, my Tía Carmen (my aunt). I don't know the exact dates, but little Carmen died from smallpox when she was probably at a similar age as in the photo. My mother was born in 1921 and was given the name of Carmen. My Tía had obviously already passed away. I don't know much else about my Tía Carmen, but it does feel so right to talk about her and honour her existence. I often look at this photo and feel my Abuelita and Tía's presence.
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Coming soon: My Courageous Abuelita Carmen
