The holidays have come and gone- almost- and the survivors go back to their version of normal. With the prevalence of family photo Christmas cards I now see how wonderfully (as Garrison Kellor says) above average your family members are. And there must not have been any disasters this year. They look too happy. I am now aware of many wonderful places there are in this world that you have visited (though after you factor out the insecurities of actual traveling there and the adventure of global travel in the age of terrorism I am less in awe).
So backing up. Holiday stress all started before Halloween, way back in October. And then adding in another stresser called President election campaigning 2016 which had started almost 2 years before. As if the usual end of year holidays weren’t stressful enough. Then we jump into the Christmas season.
I won’t get into the commercialization of Christmas (I say Christmas but you all know what I mean- the whole shebang. Everyone gets caught up in it ). In my family we also have November and December and January birthdays and anniversaries which only add to the excitement.
It is now written into our DNA that we have to buy presents (darn Magi, why didn’t they just stay home) . When did buying more and more stuff before the old stuff was used up or broken become necessary to life in this country? For the hard- to- buy -for we have thousands of gift cards available. Encouraging us to buy more stuff we don’t need. Is there a land of lost gift cards?
Anyway enough rant. Time for a new tradition- my post holiday letter. I have in the past enjoyed writing my family’s Christmas letter. Tried to make them funny and surprising. Do you remember Luke discovering the painless cure for male pattern baldness?
Celebration is not the word I would use to discuss my recent birthday unless surviving is cause for celebration. All those infirmities we heard our aged folks talk about are now our main points of discussion.
Oh well, my role models continue to be the 86 year old nun who still runs Ironman races and the 78 year old woman who is a weight lifting champion. No, I do not do those things, but they are still my role models.
You all want to know if I am still painting. Yes, I am not infirm and can still hold a brush. Don’t want to rest on my laurels. So prepare for something new. Sadly I never was asked to be in the Miami Basel Art Fair. I guess my non-socially significant dancers and musicians and figures are not edgy enough. Always wondered about the word edgy. Makes me feel insecure. But yes, I paint therefore I am. Descartes? And the best is still yet to come.
When you have few minutes during your online surfing, every once in a while, check out my website and Facebook. If I am a future Georgia O”Keefe you don’t want to miss out.
This year might be good for art sales – who knows how many people who are tired of hanging onto their money might be realizing insecurity is the new normal and thus buying something that makes you happy is a good thing. I will be glad to oblige. I will even be offering the opportunity to purchase art that has been scanned and can be printed as giclees. Yes, a French word for high -end printing. The finished product is amazing. Stay tuned for more details on their availability
So long for now. Have a happy, merry, joyful new year.
