This year, 2010...the start of a new decade in itself…just so happens to be the same year that three of the women in my family start a new decade in their lives as well. The first of us is my oldest sister…who we will lovingly call Statler, again from our sister Kermit’s blog.
As I was saying, the first to reach her birthday of the three of us is Statler, and incase you haven’t figured out how old she is, then I’m guessing the title hasn’t clued you in enough. ^_~ Oh well. It doesn’t matter, because like any of us in my family, she doesn’t look her age. I think it was only a couple years ago, someone asked for her license when she was buying a pack of cigarettes for her husband. She’s a whole ten years older than me, so I can honestly say that when growing up, we weren’t quite as close as me and Kermit were. But Statler still has as much love for me as our other sister, and I can tell that she’s looking out for me.
Our dad and I will argue day in and out about my sister’s hair. For the most part, I will always remember it as being red and incredibly curly. Even if we have pictures to prove my dad’s accuracy as to when he insists that she was originally a blonde. Despite those pieces of visual evidence, I still refuse to believe him. That coloration doesn’t fit her on so many levels, most of all her personality. Statler is bright, vibrant, giddy, excited, patient and well tempered…which is a strange trait to find in our family…ambitious, and most of all, positive. The red color of her hair just radiates positive energy in my eyes!
She started out going to school for physical education, and I think the only thing that she continued to pursue down that highly active role is taking classes in Irish Step Dancing. And I imagine she’s really good at it, because she’s been really eager for me to come up to see her in a recital. Considering I haven’t received an invitation in so long…I’m wondering if I’ve missed out on the chance to see her dance. I’d really like to. Heh…I remember when Statler and Kermit came to visit me for St. Patty’s Day weekend, the equivalent to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras in the city I live in, my oldest sister was so disappointed in the various schools of Irish Step Dancing that performed during the horribly long parade. (I’m so never sitting/standing through that again.) She explained to us that there is an actual routine made specifically parades, and that dancers are never stop their steps, just because there’s a pause in the walking. Impressive…and I can envision my sister doing it with those bouncing red curls.
And though most of my family is very supportive of my art, my mother still pushing the various character pieces I like to draw, Statler probably owns some of my most ambitious endeavors…or at least offered and given financial support towards a good number of them. Back when I was printing my first comic book, eager to see the third issue complete, she offered to loan me the printing charges for it. Granted, it never happened due to my dorm room’s evil AC unit, and my dying passion for the series…but I’m sure if I could get over the depression the storyline tends to put me in whenever I try to pick it up, I’m sure the offer would still stand.
She also allowed me to paint on the walls of her first house. I never got to work on the idea we had for her dining room, but I was able to complete her guest bedroom. Yes, my mother has allowed me to do so as well with her previous house, but nothing as wonderful and exciting as being able to paint one of my favorite creatures; the dragon. This was more along the lines of the Eastern style dragon, which are as equally exciting as your Western style dragon. When she had the idea of what she wanted in the room that would display her souvenirs from her trip to Japan, she first took me to a Chinese restaurant that had these neat swirling clouds on the exterior of the building. Add those to a couple of dragons, some kanji that reflect the ideals of love, hope, friendship, and peace, along with a bonsai tree on the closet doors, and we’ve got a room sized mural that I was rather proud of. Sadly…I don’t think I can find any of the pictures from it at this moment.
However, I do have pictures of the paintings I did for her new guest bedroom. Her husband…who apparently enjoys the fact that I will freely belch at the dinner table…put his foot down at the idea of me painting on the walls of their new house. Why is beyond me, but I’m doing my best not to hold it against him…because it allowed me to come up with a set of pictures (four of which are missing because she hung them up at her office) that not only took my sister by surprise, but took me by surprise as well. The paint I used was probably not the most ideal for the paper, but it was from the whole experience of working with it on two different occasions that I learned that I absolutely hated it. Yes, it’s nice to have a watercolor like paint that won’t pick up if you dab water over it again when it dries…but it also means you’ve got to be extra careful in how much you take out of the tube. Because like acrylic paint…once it’s out, and you don’t use it up…it dries and stays that way. Ugh. I can’t stand it.
So, because of my dislike for the paint, I wasn’t too pleased with the paintings. To my surprise, it seems that whatever I dislike turns out to be something everyone adores. I never take compliments that well to begin with, but it completely amazed me how much everyone was complimenting me on the first batch of paintings, but even more so on the second batch. It just blew me away, and actually had me smiling after a while. Which leads me to believe that my sister actually brings the best out in my work. She’s always understood my tastes, never forcing me to try something I’ve constantly snubbed my nose on. And for that, I love her. Thank you.
I’ve got a great idea for a quilt to hang in her dining room…so at some point I need to discuss it with you on materials for it. But until then, Happy Birthday, big sister! I love you and I hope today you have a blast!
