On Memorial Day 2010

Summery sunshine and blue sky brings in this Memorial Day here in Queens. There's a big parade just down Littleneck Parkway on Northern Boulevard. My flag is in the window, red, white and blue behind the lace curtains. It's the unofficial beginning of summer. It's the official day of remembrance for soldiers who died in our Civil War...now for all fallen soldiers in our many wars. Each one of us has our own recollections. I know I don't need a special day for that, yet, I know it is a way to remind people what price freedom has and how horrific war really is.

Summer is a strange season for me. It seems many major changes initiate for me during the summer months. At one time I actually would dread the months of June, July and August. They seemed to incubate disruption during their steamy days. Fortunately, I've come to understand that this disruption of my norm is part of life's heartbeat. Sometimes it skips a beat, other times the rate accelerates and it might even throw in a few extra lub-dubs to keep me on my toes. Now, I don't take all these changes as an exception...more like a random pattern that occurs when necessary. Whenever I think I 'get it', what I get is a little zap. Complacency is stagnation, so the gods of summer throw a monkey wrench into the mix. I like monkeys, but things may get chaotic for a while. When the dust and banana peels settle, I begin to see reason to the rhyme.

So, here I am. Official or not, summer begins. Not wanting to disappoint me, the gods of summer have started the monkeyshines. Some are scary and some are amazingly wonderful. Welcome to my summer revelations. By the time I reach September, I'm sure things will be calmer. Well, I'm not really sure, but I'm okay with whatever evolves.

I've been clearing out many years of stuff. Spring cleaning continues to Summer cleaning...risky business. There are old paintings I've culled, but one that I love is Abuelita. I painted her in my parent's basement one summer's day, while I was trying to keep cool. She has been with me since then.

There are some things to hold and others to set free. Ah, summertime! This year, I do look forward to the shakeup. I moved Abuelita to the Oaxaca wing of my apartment. She seems right at home there. We all know, home is where the heart is.

Abuelita~painted mid-late '60's ;)