Reflections

There are some things in life….that require you to stop and take a breath and do something else besides work, marketing and monitoring employees and apprentices.  A daughter’s wedding is one of those.  My daughter will be getting married on Friday.  Or should I say what I have beens saying for the last month, “My baby is getting married.” I arrived almost a week early, I thought I would bring work along, just incase there was idle time.  I hate idle time.  NOT! We have been DOINGG since I arrived.  I live to cross things off of the list of things needing to get done.  

One of the reasons I arrived early was that my daughter invited me to her bachelorette party.  I was flattered to be cool enough to come and dubbed myself (DD) designated driver.  The party was titled “wigged out” and I had to find a wig, at the last minute before leaving I was able to find a cool, blonde hippy wig with head band.  Funny I remember dressing like this for real-head bands.   I have never been a blonde, and no matter how long I wait in between hair cuts, I have had approximately 7-10 in my adult life, my hair does not grow long.  

We definitely received some looks.  Here are some pictures.  Our itinerary eat sushi, and then dance at different places.  It was interesting to see the “young” places and dances.  Of course I could dance anywhere, but I still prefer ball room or jitterbug.  That will be for Friday.  Four days and counting.  Oh yes, the cake lady bugged out on us, so I guess I’ll be creating a wedding cake.  Can’t guarantee it will turn out perfect, but I’ll do my best.  FYI about photos, daughter has pink hair.  Photo of me  with the peace signs. I look stoned, but I am not. That is what the (MOTB) mother of the bride looks like when she has stays up WAY past her bedtime. 

That is the case with this article, probably the most personal interview I have ever given. But I must say the writer did a great job. Check out Beauty for Ashes: The Inspired Art of Bridgette Mongeon.

The studio has been quiet over the holidays as we spent time with family and friends. We had a Posada at the studio inviting friends and neighbors. A posada is a Mexican tradition of going to a different house each night for 7 nights. two people are dressed as Mary and Joseph and ask for lodging, which is done through singing. Several people stood outside the studio door and sang while others were inside signing back. In the end we all eat. It was a cold night.

The posada went well, and part of me wishes we would have also had an upside down Christmas Party as we have in the past. Maybe next year.

There are great adventures planned with the God’s Word Collectible series as well. And I am really looking forward to our Inspirations/Generations podcasts. A new one is up on New Years Resolutions. May you all have a wonderful and creative New Year.

Recently I recorded a podcast about traditions. It was for Inspirations/Generations podast that I record with my mother, and daughter. It was about Christmas traditions. You can find the podcast on the God’s Word Collectible website, or if you like you can subscribe to it in

In it we talked about reading the Christmas story from the bible and reenacting the scene with the nativity figures. Well my children are grown and my daughter lives in another state, so instead I read in front of Jenna’s candle. Jenna’s candle was given to me by her mom and I was instructed to light it on special occasions.

Because a good deal of the year I am working on sculptures of loved ones who have died, I have a great compassion for my clients and others who have lost a loved one. This time of year is especially difficult. So I lit the candle for Jenna, and for all of those other children and I read the Christmas Story. I also prayed for those families who have family members who are struggling with cancer and illness. I thought about the children as I sat alone in my studio and read and prayed. May all families feel God’s comfort at this time.

Jenna’s candle is on a place that might be referred as my alter. It has special things that I like, a picture of my mom and myself, a stone elephant that I mention in my book “Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased-A Sculptor’s Journey.” And a sculpture that someone created for me saying, “this sculpture represents your spirit. “

May all families feel God’s comfort at this time.

I guess it is a little strange that I just finished a hand doctor’s portrait and I end up at a hand doctor. I should have made an appointment with Dr. Brown, but I didn’t want to to take a chance on blowing the surprise. The good news , there is no arthritis. I have some other problems that warrant resting hand in brace when not sculpting and using cream. Just thought the xray was so cool. A sculptor’s bones!

Kittiana came into our lives at a time of fracture instability and uncertainty. She was from “Santa” and only because a friend, friend had kittens around Christmas time and I was just coming off a divorce and hard pressed to find Santa gifts. She arrived in the wee hours of my daughter’s 7th Christmas and took quickly to the animals that always sit around the base of the tree each Christmas. When I went to bed that evening she meowed so loudly was unsure of what to do. I found a stuffed cat and encourage her to lie next to it. It appeased her. In the morning we jumped up from bed and entered the living room. Christina bounding and I wondering where on earth this present was. Christina was distracted by some of the minor things under the tree until she noticed cat litter. At least Santa came prepared. The surprise on her face was priceless. I pretended to complain stating, “Santa better not have left a cat in this house.” T that moment the cat meowed from beneath the cabinet and Christina went quickly to retrieve her.

The bond was instant, and offered Chris a distraction from a dad who was not there. Kittiana took to sleeping on Christina’s head, and had a horrible playful, but painful habit of attaching her feat at night. Though Kittiana always looked small and kitty like, for many years visitors called her the unfriendly cat. She wanted no one except for Christiana.

Children grow, and you don’t realize that their pets are often left behind. Grade school came with slumber parties and slip and slides, junior high with guys and giggles, and high school with dreams and determination. When Christina went away to college Kittiana’s personality changed she mellowed. Perhaps we bonded because of our loss of the girl, the desperate need to feel that girlish love. Whatever it was, her allegiance switched. Soon Kittiana was banned from Chris bedroom. Whether it was because of her misunderstanding or her love of the girl, she would still try to “claim her territory,” even on visits and the summers when Christian came home.

Chris graduated college a year ago spring. She decided to continue to live in the Tulsa away from her Texas home. “I can barely be responsible for me, Please don’t make me responsible for my cat.” I understood the feelings. They were feelings I too had so many years ago alone with a mortgage, two dogs, a cat and a precious little girl.

My life has changed over the years. There is stability in a relationship, and a career. Kittiana and I developed a regular ritual. Evening snack, a glass of wine and sitting on the chair. She would snuggle, and do you know that the mean cat would let me hold her like a baby! I loved it and I think we both got what we needed. A year ago she was diagnosed with thyroid problems. Slowly her health declined and two weeks ago I made the decision and the appointment to put her down. I have had many pets, this one was hard to let go of, she represented so much more than a cat, and it was the last of my daughter’s childhood. Over the last two weeks I took numerous pictures, her 4 lb frame so frail. Christina has had ample time to work through her issues; it was mom that had to come to terms. Last night I snipped a bit of her hair, some black, some white and taped it together. I made two of these little locks. It is a tradition that I started from the first deceased pet. They all sit in a jewelry box in my dresser drawer, or course I’ll send one to Chris. The last week kittiana became fussy about food, and I felt it was something that she did to let me know, “hey it is really time.” She could afford to get no thinner. Today at 11:00 I held her as the doctor put her to sleep. Her ashes will arrive at another time. I feel good about my decision, and can easily go throughout the day without crying until I think of the two thoughts together, the girl and the kitty. Then I’m a mess. I’m very grateful we have had the bond. I guess it is o.k. to say, I miss them both and am grateful that all of our lives have touched.

My little boo boo kitty!

Like many, our home was out of electricity for many days, though I must say not as long as some of the areas of our neighborhood.  But apparently Texas was not the only state with outages from Ike. 

While traveling out on 59 we saw 61 electrical trucks coming in from out of state. It became our car game to count them. Here is the clincher- every state that we drove through Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and NY all had power outages. They all felt  Ike! Here is the map of the Ike route and our trip. Now I can see why so many felt it. I went to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike and found that Cincinnati had 927,000 out of power, Arkansas 200,000, Indiana 200,000, winds were even felt in London, Ontario. For a hurricane that had a width of 275 miles it is no wonder. Each state we went to felt our pain, but they were a little irritated because they sent their trucks to us, not knowing what their state would suffer.

As normal as it feels sitting here in Scholotzsky’s on the WI FI We must go back to survival.  Waiting in long lines at grocery stores for food for the house, and more long lines for the gas for the generator.  I’m also hoping to get something to chain up that generator with.  It is a hot commodity in this city right now.  Found ice on the way out and bought a 8 bags. Brought it back to the house and distributed it to neighbors.  Everyone has to help everyone else out.  Soon as I can escape again I’ll post. Oh yes, FYI Still working, picked up wax just before hurricane and have been working on it with a torch on the studio porch.  It must go to the foundry in the morning.  And…. the Dick Hathaway sculpture made it along with Jenna.  No problems.  We will still try to leave on Saturday, if my SUV that I have rented with Budget, is still available.