As an artist, I have flashbacks that are so incredibly vivid and one indelible memory was of President Kennedy and the First Lady. Look at those smiles and the hope in the faces of the crowd. Do you have flashbacks to moments in your life that marked a certain time and place?I was only 3, but in an instant those happy faces were gone in a flash. I knew I had to draw or paint to find happiness and to bring it to all the sad faces around me.
Shortly thereafter, my Grandma Elsie passed away and I have vivid memories of going to the sideboard drawer in the dining room and taking out the manilla paper and shoe-box lid of crayons and making pretty pictures to bring smiles to my Mom and those around me.
Do you have flashbacks? What events have helped to shape your life?
I think about this sort of thing way more often now that I have kids...I wonder what DEFINING moments will shape them and their personalities as they did me. I can pinpoint the reason why I hate the phone...when I was 3 my mother and father got a phonecall that my young uncle had passed away. I still prepare myself for the worst when I answer the phone. Thanks for making me think so deeply in the morning:)--gretchen
ReplyDeleteI have SO many memories of going to Parks and playgrounds...I think my Mama liked us being outside a lot...then we moved to a house with more land...and we were outside building camps and making fairy gardens all day long...when we weren't at school!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your memories and making everyone smile with your drawings...really cute.
HUGS and have a great week.
char.x.
Gretchen,
ReplyDeleteMy memory of the phone is one of "Operator"-the funny skit by Lilly Tomlin. Do you know about that one?
pve
Char,
My Mom took us to Cave Hill Cemetery to feed the ducks with stale bread. It sounds odd, but I love going there. Next time I am home, I have to take my Mom. The geese came in our car on numerous occasions! Ha.
Just getting outside is good for everyone, right?
pve
A lot of my memories are water related. Falling into a fish pond, my father teaching me to float on my back, sitting on the dock and watching the crabs underneath, the dolphins jumping nearby, and the beautiful clouds and sunsets. I have a photographic memory when it comes to anything that catches my eye, so I have a lot to go on as well, memory wise.
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteWater, water everywhere----
I too love the water, well after all...I am true to my astrological sign. Pisces.
Dashing off to take my daughter to swim practice!
Love your artwork-
pve
Too many to list. Wonderful post Patricia.
ReplyDeletekwana,
ReplyDeletenow that is why you write - to get them all out in your own clever witty way, right?
pve
That image is so bittersweet -- in my beloved hometown of Dallas.
ReplyDeleteAnyhooo.....I do have flashbacks...and they are mainly of a carefree childhood, playing outdoors.
I hope my children's memories are happy ones!
xo Elizabeth
Elizabeth-
ReplyDeleteAll children should have carefree memories, right!
Sandboxes, castles, waves, fireflies, friends, fresh lemonade too!
pve
I am a bit older than you, and was in the 5th grade in Dallas at the time of your photograph. My flashback will always be our principal announcing the news to our school. Such a profound and sad day. Fortunately, I have happy flashbacks too, and some really funny ones that still make me laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteI love that picture. I have flashbacks of so many different things(probably because i am a military spouse and we travel/relocate all the time). Anyway, a recent one i had was of my neighbor when I lived in Italy. We were always working in our gardens in the summer, and she would say, "Stacey, let's take a coffee break." We did that quite often and i was thinking recently how i missed that kind of comraderie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful moment in time...
ReplyDeleteI love the name Elsie. It is just beautiful.
I remember sitting in the 3rd grade classroom as we watched to launch and explosion of the Challenger. That will be forever ingrained in my mind...
I went back to England and Scotland when I was 22 having left when I was 3. My Mum used to eat cinnamon lollies and when I found some in Scotland, the smell brought back so many latent memories like being in lifts, the rain and being surrounded by family. It was quite amazing really...
ReplyDeleteThe smell of roses, gardenias, honeysuckle, the ripe earth smell of geraniums, the sweetness of the mimosa and magnolia trees. They all blend into an exotic perfume I smelled on hot summer nights. Now, I am a gardener.
ReplyDeletehi friend! i've missed all my blog friends. have been so out of touch. hope you are well. and, yes, i live in a flashback! sometimes wish i could turn it off.
ReplyDeleteof course, i love this post.
ReplyDeleteit's funny how certain moments mark our lives when at the time, they don't seem that much larger than others.
i feel blessed to look back and have so many happy memories that stand out to me from my childhood. i think it shapes a lot of my outlook as an adult.
I just read Wendy Burden's dead end gene pool. It is my favorite flashback!! She reminded me of the smell of plastigoop when making creepy crawlers, MAD magazine, Bain du Soleil, and life growing up in the 60's. It is hilariously funny.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to me how you started bringing happiness to people through your art at such a young age - how lucky and amazing that you are able to still use your talents to bring happiness to others today!
ReplyDelete