Friday...Saturday...and now Sunday has crept into my reality. I worked late on Friday and went over to my daughter's Tina's house for a small conference with my eleven year old grand daughter and her desire to run away to live with her biological father who lives five hours away and has hardly visited with her during her lifetime. The torment and turmoil affected the entire family and with her young skills she is having a very difficult time attempting to make sense of this tumultuous situation. I can see she is being torn in several directions when she is just beginning to spread her young wings for more freedom and privileges. I know families did not have to deal with this during my childhood but I do remember wanting to go live with my grandmother who spoiled me and I could have my own space and the beginning of independence. My father had his way of thinking and I had mine...so as usual the weaning process was starting to flow in my preteen spirit. We have worked on several plans to attempt to revisit her need to avoid situations she is struggling with...she has a teacher that she is unable to connect with and struggling with the fifth grade curriculum. Tomorrow I will pick her up and we will go to the library to have a special tutor hour with grandpa and away from distractions like the phone, interruptions and well just life. It truly does take a village to raise a child ...and all families can agree to disagree but we are still connected by our heartstrings.
I am still painting snowmen...and Ken delivered my trees and lights and wrapping papers to the studio so I will have another very busy week ahead of me. I have invited young families to come down on the Friday after Thanksgiving to the studio for hot chocolate and cookies to snack on while we wait anxiously for Santa to arrive on his firetruck to light the courthouse for the Holidays. For generations this has become a family ritual for our community to welcome the season to all families and all generations. I have the chocolates and need to pick up candy canes and cookies closer to the actual date. I am hopeful that the photographers will bring their cameras and capture this joy of the season.
I am working on several small Thanksgiving pieces that are assemblages and reasonably priced so someone might have a small gift to share in the Thanksgiving season. Vintage images and linen cross stitch reworked with silks and layers of memorabilia will hopefully connect with my viewers. I am a wee bit saddened by the fact that the commercialism of Christmas has completely overshadowed the thoughts of gratitude and sharing our blessing with those we have loved in our lifetime. My parents were married on Thanksgiving in 1949 and when we gathered for our dinner and celebrations I would love to remember my parents working together to make a memory for their sic children. The first wine I had ever tasted was Morgan David wine... it was awful to my taste and made my Dad laugh when he allowed me to have a taste. No offense to the Morgan David wine company or family but I did not have any curiosity for drinking wine after that first experience. I am not sure why this memory came back into my heart tonight but Thank you Mom and Dad for all the delicious meals and the warm home you provided for all six of us....we did not have much but we did have each other. I pray you have all had a wonderful Indian Summer weekend...Minneapolis received 12 inches of snowfall so Winter is definitely arriving soon. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
