Memories

My last post wasn't what I intended. I started with a different thought and somehow the other post escaped! Ok, I thought, what I wrote is true and since it was published I had to live with it. And I did for a couple of days. During this time of reflection I discovered that my Art House Sketchbook Project wasn't due until January 31st and I had time to finish it. My topic is I Remember You. I could see it in my mind and all I had to do is draw it. One of the pages is about Uncle Emmet. He was my grandmother's younger brother and visited us frequently in Brooklyn. One year when he visited for Christmas he brought my grandmother a beautiful mosaic bowl. Uncle Emmet worked in the shoe salon in Lord & Taylor on Fifth Ave. I know that he brought presents for my brother and I but I only remember the bowl.  I decided to email my brother to find out  what he remembered about Uncle Emmet. I also sent him my original drawing. He wrote back, "Uncle Emmet was bald (he had wavy hair in my first drawing) and he always wore suits." I tried to explain what I was doing and why Uncle Emmet looked the way he did. He said that rather than remember him I was trying to "recreate him"! I have to admit that I was a little upset when he wrote that - but after a couple more emails it was clear that our memories were totally different. I am 2 years older and since I'm a girl it makes sense that his memories were about model airplanes and mine about a beautiful mosaic bowl. We left it at that and I decided that it probably wasn't a good idea to show him any more of my drawings until the book was finished. I need to do my way, the way I remember it. After all, they are my memories!