Dot shows me the way

During the hot summery days of August our daughters gave us a party for our 50th wedding anniversary.  It was a glorious time.  Our daughters were all home at the same time along with an assortment of grandchildren.  I didn’t want to miss a minute of it.  At the big party I danced and danced (square dancing is our choice) and tried to talk just a little with everyone.  It was a wonderful evening.  I didn’t want to miss a minute of it – or did I say that already.

So many of our family came a long way for the party.  Anne and Bob even came from Pennsylvania just for the party.  I had a house full of company and I loved it.  I didn’t want to miss even a minute of it.

So, the day after the big party, we had a family party, and our families were all here at the house.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to cook with so much going on so we chose our favorite foods and brought them in from our favorite restaurants.  The kitchen counters were full of good things to eat.

So I did have time to visit with everyone.  The smallest and cutest member of our families is a tiny girl nicknamed Dot.  She’s a tiny little dot of a thing, but full of fun too.

By the time I sat down to talk with our guests I was so very tired, but, you know,  I didn’t want to miss a minute of it.  So I sat and tried hard to make intelligent conversation.  I wasn’t fooling anyone about how tired I was.

Then little Dot held her hand up to me and led me up the stairs, across the veranda and into the kitchen.  I wonder now if she had plans to put me to bed.   She’s a smart little girl.  Once in the kitchen, she just looked around a bit, then led me outside again.

Someone took a photo of Dot leading me up the stairs.  I look so big and so bent over and she looks so tiny and in command.  I didn’t know about the photo until Dot’s mama put it up on Facebook.  I was struck by Dot’s tiny/tall person leading my big lumpy person.  She seems so in control for someone so small.

So I painted it in watercolor.  It is what it is – a good memory from our big party.

Marilynne

For me, a physical distraction is a good one. While my body is busy, my mind is free and floating around thinking about things I don’t know yet. A walk is particularly good for solving problems. You just walk until your brain is relaxed, then come back and work. It’s amazing how easily problems are solved after a walk. It works to a lesser degree with other physical things.

There is one big distraction that gets me off track and that’s doing my watercolor. My watercolor wants the same part of my brain as my writing, but it doesn’t like to share – and vice versa. So, that’s my problem today. I really want to do a little watercolor, but I know that once I get started it won’t be just a little. It will be a big, lovely, wonderful experience and leave me drained for writing.

So, today, I would send you off on a silly hunt for art. If you have any interest in art, check out WetCanvas.com [wetcanvas-newsletter@fwpubs.com]. Today’s newsletter has an article about photographing lightning. Did you know there’s a bit of math that will help you catch the picture? See, I’ve been distracted already. Maybe catching up on the wash will help free my mind a little.

Back to the adventures of Maxie, Jason, Su Lin, Ma and the Chinese smugglers.

Marilynne

My last painting was full of bright rose, red, pink and white color.  I think I want to do more of that.  I’m afraid I get bored trying to replicate the colors of a landscape.  Nature’s already done that.  I don’t really mean that, but I don’t see the purpose of painting a tree that just exactly looks like a tree.

 You could say I’m beginning to find my style.  You could also say that I have a rebellious nature and this style speaks to it.

Whatever, I am about to choose between a photo of stained glass (small), the psychadelic sunflowers, or the colorful woman.  Maybe I’ll post the winner in a few days, that is, my choice of a winner.

 Marilynne