Pause

Dove
16 x 20
acrylic collage
on paper

Seven years ago today what I was doing that morning seemed terribly insignificant.
Suddenly, my usual tasks became unusual and I was overcome with the feeling of uselessness.
I know we will never forget what we were doing and where we were on that particular day.
I saw it unfold on a small black and white television in my studio when I lived in Corpus Christi, Texas.
I remember thinking how it looked like a scene from an old movie, like King Kong. It just didn't seem real.
Every year since then the weather has been nice on this day. There has always been a crispness in the air that makes it easier to pause, even when I lived in Germany.
Take time today wherever you are to breathe in the crisp air, pause, and remember those who were loved and those who have lost the most.

Elk II

Elk II
16 x 20
acrylic collage
on paper

Elk

Rocky Mountain Elk
16 x 20
acrylic collage
on paper

Three

Three
16 x 20
acrylic collage
on paper


As I stood behind him in the checkout line, I noticed he was purchasing two bras. I thought maybe he was buying them for his girlfriend. Upon closer observation, I could tell he wasn't all together there. He smiled at me with a toothless grin.
Given my past experiences I've adapted a certain smile that keeps the nuts at bay. It's still pleasant, just not as encouraging.
For some reason they always single me out. Maybe they see me as a kindred soul. Hey she's a nut too! Yet, I always seem to walk away with a good story.
When he whizzed by me in the parking lot on his big red bicycle, I saw 2 bra straps through his t-shirt. Then it all made sense.
Perhaps, this gave him an extra sense of support. In a world that can be so cruel to those that are seemingly so different. It may make him feel more secure.
I know we all need to feel supported at times and who am I to question.
Maybe,
just another nut.

Dream II

Dream II
16 x 20
acrylic collage
on paper

Dream

Dream
16 x 20
acrylic collage
on paper

Who knew that winter her heart would become as hard as the frozen ground.
The day he left her she needed to loose herself in a pint of rocky road, maybe more.
When she opened the freezer she noticed a zip locked bag she'd never seen before.
Inside held a frozen dead bird, one of Mister Man's bestowed gifts awaiting burial.
Once on a good day you'd find him with a bird in his mouth at the back step, twice on even a better one, and always beaming with pride.
In her haste she bent the spoon. She just couldn't wait for the ice cream to soften.
She knew the Spring time would yield a softer ground and for her a softer heart.
Then she could bury the little bird beneath the big oak tree in the backyard.
She placed the bag back into the freezer and wondered how he could have been so compassionate to save the little bird and not their marriage.
Either way they both were dead
and another pint of rocky road would not bring them back.

The Need For Change

"I hate change", she said as she dumped out her coin purse on the table. She picked out all the quarters in the pile. There must have been at least a dozen or so. She wanted to keep him busy with the video games, so the grown ups could talk. She said that it was okay, because they have so much change. They just keep it all in those big red coffee cans and have several throughout their house. Every once and awhile they go to one of those coin machines and turn it into "real" money.

Her husband hated change just as much as she. An annoying clinking sound always signaled his return from work with each hateful coin dropping into the can.

At that time

the conversation turned to politics and all the change that is happening in the nation. She noticed the play on words, but kept it to herself. She didn't know the other couple too well and didn't want to appear foolish.

She always hated when the subject of politics came up with new friends. You see, she's never voted and neither has her husband. This topic is as dangerous as religion. Talking about either one and your skating around a danger zone.

As it turned out the other couple had never voted either.

They talked about the need for change and if Americans are prepared for it, but not for too long.

Fortunately, the subject changed.

Another play on words she held under wraps.

She then reached deep in her purse and found another handful of quarters, more change.

When the boy had returned to the table, she told him he could keep the change. She had no need for it.

You should have seen the look on his face.

You see, for some people change is a good thing.

I will return next Tuesday.

I won't be blogging for a change.

Talk to you then.

Have a good Labor Day Weekend

MB