I’m having a weird day.
This image popped up in my Facebook feed last night. It’s not what created the weirdness, but definitely what took me from Guate-mala to Guate-peor.
The work is by Norman Rockwell, and titled “The Young Lady With A Shiner”.
She sold at Heritage Auctions today, November 8th, 2018.
The first artist I knew by name was Alphonse Mucha.
My mother bought me coloring books of Mucha’s art nouveau ladies.
Barbie be damned, these were a dream come true.
So much to color, the hair, the jewelry, the clothes, and all – oh so pretty.
Beauty for beauty’s sake; heaven for my nine year old self.
There was, however, another side to my nine year old self, and there she sits, black eye and all.
Norman Rockwell is the second artist I knew by name, because of this picture.
We had a print, it hung in the hallway near my bedroom.
My mother said it reminded her of me.
I can see why.
My mother thought she was charming, the proud little girl in this painting.
I know how she’s feeling.
Victorious.
She took a couple of shots, but she clearly won.
She’s on an adrenaline high, feeling no pain.
My mother used to speak for her and say,
“…yeah, but you should see the other girl.”
The other little girl who probably had it coming.
The other little girl who said the wrong thing, made fun of the wrong person, pushed the wrong button.
The other little girl.
Later when she takes a bath and those braids are undone, she’ll lose a chunk or two of hair.
The water will sting her knees and arms and face from the sidewalk and fingernail marks mostly.
She’ll have pain from wounds she can’t identify.
Wounds which may never heal.
Today, November 8th, is my birthday.
Tied up in a circle.
Me, my mother and Norman Rockwell.
– S. Conde
Happy Birthday Stacy! The synchronicity of the Rockwell painting being sold today, on your birthday is interesting if not amazing, and the memories it stirred for you. I was spanked as a child. I used to laugh. No doubt some sort of defence mechanism 🙂 I wonder who is the man in the doorway and whose hand on the desk in the foreground of the door.
Are we tied up in a circle? Maybe, like the oroborus –
Susan! It’s so good to hear from you. Truly, I’m not a believer in coincidence. The universe is holding up a cosmic mirror to my face and forcing me to take a deep dive in. I did. It was unpleasant, and continues to be.
Work. Work. Work. The rage is always simmering in the darkest depths. Again. Work. Work Work. Thank you for the birthday wishes, I think this one marks a shift. We’ll see. Certainly like the oroborus or karmic wheel even, round and round we go. 🙂 Laughing. I’ve always suspected you were a badass. 🙂 oxo Our mechanisms for overcoming pain are fascinating. Do you still laugh, or suppress a laugh when you’re hurt?
Hi Stacy. Ya work work work fullstop each time before the next work work work. It’s an ongoing thing probably until we die. Do I laugh when I feel hurt? I’m such a badass that I eat – food 🙂 🙂 🙂 …
Hahahaha… Well, it’s probably something spicy. 😉
I like sweet and savoury – I love food. It’s a bit of an addiction 😀