March 17

So this is the day we all celebrate our Irish-ness (?). How amazing it is to me to discover two of my best friends, Sid Hagen and Ross Klein were both born on March 17. Sid is now in Paris rediscovering that city with his family and Ross lives just north of NYC with his family. I will never forget Ross wearing a green yarn yarmulke made by our friend Mike Duggan's mother Brigit. Talk about Irish! During two years with Mike in N.J. I was able to discover that side of my heritage and what a great discovery to make! We went to see the Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem, went to Tommy Makem's pub and drank Guiness stout pulled by the man himself and regularly visited a pub in Hackensack (I think) where we saw the brother of one of the IRA prisoners of the British who starved himself to death (Bobby Sands, I believe his name was) play guitar to raise money for one of the IRA relief organs. This would have been 1983-85. Thanks Mike, for expanding my understanding of Irish culture and the very beautiful and cultural world of the Irish in America. I almost felt like your other brother and to be embraced that way by you and Kate and your families was one of the greatest experiences of my life. You guys have birthdays this month also as I remember, so Happy Birthday to all these wonderful friends.

But this blog is called “artwords” so I guess I need to speak about art. I just finished a new watercolor of a little guy who lived down the street. He was playing in the puddle next to my driveway and with me being an unrepentant 55 year old child, I felt compelled to explain the finer points of being a boy. So I went out and talked to him and his twin brother and as Twain said “incited a riot” by encouraging them to run and jump in the puddle. I got to relive a small bit of my childhood (who am I kidding, I was muddy for the better part of my first 15-18 years) and I got a nice painting out of it. It actually went fairly quickly once I started and I already have the next sheet of 300 lb Arches watercolor paper taped to my board. I brought the board home from school but managed to leave my paints and palette there. So instead I post this painting tonight and add these notes for anyone who may actually read this thing. Maybe one day I'll surprise myself and say something important! ;0)