my family has been discussing
\nvia email
\nabout a painting
\nthat held court
\nin my Grandmother’s dining room<\/p>\n
there was
\nover many years
\nserious and heart felt treasties given
\nover the subject of the painting
\nand whether it was a sun rise
\nor
\na sunset…
\nbut either way
\nthe shadows caused the snow by the river
\nin this painting
\nto look blue….<\/p>\n
it brought this memory
\nof my father’s family<\/p>\n
I seem to recollect it was John’s position that it was sunset…<\/p>\n
In my mind’s eye I can clearly remember him sitting in the middle of the sofa in the living room
\nLeg crossed, foot wagging…drink in hand
\n(telling Digger and I that we lied to him when we said that quitting smoking would get easier)<\/p>\n
Winnie to his left and Gloria I think to his right
\nFire burning down
\nGrandma in the burgundy wing back chair in the corner
\nCup n saucer in hand
\nNorma in the chair opposite her reading aloud from a word puzzle book<\/p>\n
Mal at the piano
\nA large Christmas tree in the opposite corner<\/p>\n
That was the first time I heard John call the lustre’s on the mantle “piss whislters”<\/p>\n
There may have been some cocktails involved<\/p>\n
Digger sitting on a chair in front of the fireplace…
\nwearing a blue cotton turtle neck and a beaded native talisman around his neck<\/p>\n
There were several of us “kids” hauling dishes into the kitchen from the dining room to load the dishwasher.
\nDiane and Pat are getting coffee at the kitchen counter
\nPeach is putting food in the fridge and Tim is standing in the kitchen doorway
\nCharlie is in the den watching the news<\/p>\n
If I close my eyes I can hear the clinking of ice cubes in crystal glasses
\nand the tinkle of silver as it hits the dishwasher
\nthe sound of plates being stacked…cups and saucers readied
\nI can hear Mal tinkling the piano keys
\nI can hear the tv in the den
\nThere is someone running up the front stairs
\nAnd the clock in the front hall is clicking….<\/p>\n
the laughter<\/p>\n
it’s the soundtrack of my youth
\nat 15 Lakeside Ave<\/p>\n
when I close my eyes…it’s all still there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
my family has been discussing via email about a painting that held court in my Grandmother’s dining room there was over many years serious and heart felt treasties given over the subject of the painting and whether it was a … Continue reading