30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day Three

"Greta and Gus" - mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas, 30" x 40" (private commission)

Oh my.  Re-entry into life after lovely Listowel is not easy! Shifting time zones is a challenge, of course, but the real struggle is going from the pastoral, easy going, sweet, humorous and polite Irish small town to the fast lane of life, hectic and not NEARLY as polite life in south Florida.

When I was boarding the plane at Shannon Airport, everyone queued up as their row was called, quietly, leaving plenty of room for others.  Many remained seated until they were called, even if the line was empty.  So relaxing!  At JFK, the queue for boarding was packed right up to the attendant at the desk before pre-boarding was even called, with people shoving, bumping bags, jostling for position and acting like it was the line for the last milkshake on earth.  I was weary just watching it.  At the arrival lane outside Fort Lauderdale, the honking, flashing headlights, yelling, exhaust and crush of humanity had me feeling quite lost and sad for a few moments.  So I decided not to do much for a couple of days except catch up with myself, binge on the Winegum stash I brought home from Listowel and listen to Mickey MacConnell cds.  I am like a lovesick girl when it comes to Listowel.  But I see those who went before me re-entering their lives with grace and ease, so I know it can be done.

I've enjoyed being a hermit in my own house, listening to the quiet of an empty nest and relishing the fact that food doesn't disappear overnight while I'm asleep. :)  My hubby bought us a tv subscription to watch the Gaelic Football finals in a couple of weeks (what a thoughtful guy!) and a big vase of flowers as a welcome home.  Awwwwww!  Our muscovy flock expanded by another dozen ducklings while I was gone, and the garden turned into a jungle which is calling me to tame it.  Maybe next week.  

But after two days, I jumped back into my studio, which now has a lovely solar tube streaming sunlight into the room all day.  Yahoo!  First up was a commission I received before my trip.  This is a really large painting for me (30" x 40"), and it was BIG FUN! I'm crazy about Gus the zebra and his puff-haired friend.  He is a good warm-up for Bubbles the donkey, who is tapping my shoulder and asking to be painted.  Soon, donkey, soon!