I know I have told you about my GrandMother and her cookie tins a couple of times now.
She is one of the Graces in my life. The people who led me toward God. Huge influence because I got to live at her house every summer break. Just noticed it was sold recently. Her house # was 11523. I currently live in house # 10523. Kinda neat!
The other woman who taught Grace was/is my StepMom. She changed everything about the world I lived in, and brought Art into my life and into her (mine by proxy) home.
She had The Hustle!! Florist, newspaper routes, catering, part-time, because her full time as a secretary to an art museum.
>>>Immersed me in art<<<, architecture, landscaping, gardening, flower arranging, and cooking the most exquisite meals. We have not lost touch. She came to visit my tropical land in the winter and we had a beach day, and I went to Mountain top and helped her clear her garden in May. I plan on going back next spring.
She asked me to design the cover of her book awhile back and She published it 2022!
In 2023 during her winter visit to the tropics we did not get to see each other.
She had lunch with my brother and eldest sister, who had just re-united earlier that winter after 30’s of disownment.
Note: I sided with my brother back in 1995 [due process and all] That resulted in (mutually) disownment with my mother, and bully-sister(hear her roar.)
It was just a matter of time… because you know my stepmom (innocently) would want to talk about her first book… !!
There-Can-Be-Only-One stirs and awakens smoldering to rise and pursue the prey, the forever prey…
It was just a matter of time before the tantrum…
“But I’m the ARTIST!!! She’s not allowed to BE THE ARTIST!”
>>>Scarcity Thinking!<<<
In a world view endarkened to distort reality and perceive only LACK.
(aka gaslighting/catastrophizing/polarizing)
Hint: A family is allowed to have more than one artist.
More than one good student.
All the kids are allowed to be clever, witty, or creative.
It’s sad there was no space for me to be me in my sister’s world.
She perceived every gift I received as a robbery of her.
Every treat as something that should have been hers.
My whole damn life.
It was just a matter of time before she sent a letter to my house. I was on her radar again.
Get this… some sisters are actually friends. They really like each other and respect each other!! Ikr?? O.o
For example: My StepMother has sisters. They are actually friends and like each other!!
Imagine that!
Modelled in real time in front of me when I was at an impressionable age.
I was Impressed!
I Still Am Impressed!
About the Art: montage, collage of pix from my visit with her. Her book cover is in there. I got pictures of my father’s genealogy book, made by my favorite aunt. The data to start my own research where she left off.
In case you didn’t check the link, genealogy is something we talk a lot about.
We visited her closest friends (her sisterhood) . We shared meals, played games and I got to explore their gardens.
This is the kind of peace I found that week.
I am Loved, I am Blessed, and I am Grateful!
Traveler Chimiru 
Leave a comment