Sunday, July 7, 2013

Painting Aunt Vivian

I imagine Aunt Vivian sitting down to the easel before her and wonder – did she take lessons?  When she painted this water color delight of pale pinks and greens, flowers resting upon a careless stack of books, was she alone or with a group of others equally intent on the subject before them?

I am the caretaker of this passed-along family treasure and it occupies pride of place above the mantle in my office, so much a part of my daily view I scarce notice it at all.  But when my eyes do stop there, it is Aunt Vivian I call to mind – gentle soul, ready smile, warm welcome.

I wonder that she never married, that she was the one to stay home and take care of the parents.  Was there no young man in uniform to sweep her off her feet?  Did the college-student boarders over the years serve the place of children?

I imagine Aunt Vivian’s life as a water color of pastels, soft and gentle.  And I wonder if she was given as much satisfaction and pleasure at the sight of her own creation as I now derive?  I hope so.

4 comments:

  1. I have vague memories of Aunt Vivian -- my great Aunt. One of a number of those wonderful people who I wish I had gotten to know better. But, the great reshuffling of the 1950's took us so far away.

    Montana in the 60's seem much further from WV and all my relatives than it seems today.

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    1. Ken - so true about distances - mostly I'm glad we live in a shrinking world - mostly. What stands out in my own mind about Aunt Vivian is how very tiny she was (able to sit in the child's rocker Great-Grandfather had made her whole life) and how she made her house a treasure hunt experience for the kids, looking for something without a sticker/name to claim as our own (when she died - which never seemed macabre w/ her at all). My own mother (Harriett) spent summers there in her youth and has many wonderful memories of her own. Peace, yer cuz

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  2. I have a plate that Aunt Vivian painted, and I am so happy I have it. Mother passed it on to me, along with a quilt that Grandmother Lulu pieced. It's a double wedding ring pattern and just lovely. I believe Mother told me it was quilted by Aunt Izetta (sp?) and I'm sorry to say I have no idea who she was. I did not know Aunt Vivian well at all, but grew up hearing stories about her so I feel like I knew her! Karen Ellmore (couldn't figure out how to post this as anything other than anonymous!

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    1. Aunt Izetta was my mothers aunt from the Cart family. She was the sister of Lulu's mother Mary Jane Cart. She lived with her father a few blocks from us and was a very nice lady. Grandpa Cart used to take long walks and often stopped by to have a glass of water.

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