Momories (not mammaries) are memories I have of my mom, Edna May Jones, née Pepper. My mother passed away a year ago and I often think of her especially when I see a flower. I'll snap a picture of the flower and ponder, "my mother would like to see this." I'd like to hope that she does. I thought she'd passed on March 31st but I guess according to this, it was the 30th.
I have very few pictures of her (even fewer of my dad), perhaps they're in a stash somewhere, but I can't locate them tonight. Here is a snippet of snaps:
When I was in Grade 13, I was asked to direct the Christmas Pageant. My mother played one of the Three Wise Men (not sure which one) and pal Alex's dad was Joseph! I'll let you guess which one she is.
The gent in the middle is my father, the Father and his dutiful wife to his right. He was an Anglican Minister for most of his life and I believe these were taken at his retirement party around 1979. He moved on to work for the Social Planning Council and when he died a few years later, my mother had a healthy government pension to live off of. Had he departed while a Preacher, my mom would've been impoverished on that pension.
The other couple are the Whillans, Ken and Edna, good family friends of theirs. Ken went on to become Mayor of Brampton and drowned in 1990.
This is taken at my older brother's place in Toronto mother's place in Brampton with me in the beard, my younger brother, ma and my sister-in-law on the right. Probably mid-80s.
This would be sometime in the early 90s when my mom was into lawn bowling. Obviously there was some kind of party going on probably near Christmas (based on my mom's sweater.)
That's it! I may have more pictures tucked away somewhere, I'll have to search. I am disappointed that the website set up for her memorial is defunct. (Try this link and search for Edna May Jones in the Obits.) If I find some more, I'll share them. If you click around my blog, you may find pictures of her after her stroke, but that's not how I want to remember her.
For the rest of you, Happy Easter, for me, Not-So-Happy-Anniversary. She had a good full life and died peacefully so that's all I can hope for anyone.
As an Easter present to everyone, I thought I'd the much beloved tale, プリンセスブライドストーリー (Princess Bride Story) The Princess Bride for your perusal. I have never seen the movie for sale to date but I was lucky enough to pick up the program recently.
Here's a video clip to remind you about the movie:
Oops! Wrong clip.
I'll dispense with my usual narrative inanities and just present the mag in all its glory.
Here the gang reunite:
I really want to see this movie again! If I ever find it, I hope I get one with Easter Eggs.
He is just one of several paintings by the renowned mid-Edo painter,Ito Jakuchu. Specializing in birds, such as roosters and cranes and flowers such as orchids and cherry blossoms, he had a unique and innovative style. Of course I couldn't take photos inside the display but I managed to snap a few outside of it.
More bug-eyed tigers on a poster, a magnet, a postcard and a chubby chest.
I like the colours on this guy, painted on individual mosaic squares.
Not bug-eyed but eerie looking.
Here are some of the birds starting with a magnificent cock!
If you like his birds and you have 15 minutes to spare, watch this:
Is there a white elephant in the room? Why yes, there is.
This elephant just happens to be part of a piece called "Birds and Animals in the Flower Garden" (鳥獣花木図屏風, Chōjūkaboku-zu byōbu),
is arguably one of the most modern-looking pieces to come out of Japan
during this period. The piece, one of a pair of six-fold screens, depicts
a white elephant and a number of other animals in a garden. What makes
it unique, eccentric and modern is the division of the entire piece into
a grid of squares roughly a centimeter on each side. Each square was
colored individually, in order to create the resulting aggregate image.
It is part of the Price Collection of the Shin'enkan Foundation in Los
Angeles." (Scammed from the wiki page.)
I picked up a cool clear file of the piece with 46 different birds and animals upon it.
Check out this well narrated documentary of his life entitled, "Ito Jakuchu, A Man with no Age". You'll see the above painting after the 2 minute mark.
I like this elephant and bull, each part of a 6 screen painting.
After the show, I went around the back of the Sendai City Museum, something I'd never done before. It was a little chilly and I didn't have my jacket with me, otherwise I might have made the trek up the hill to the ruins of Sendai Castle.
I wanted a nice photo to use the line, "It wasn't a Great Friday, but it was a pretty Good Friday" and this one fit the bill.
As for the title of today's post, Cherry Blossom Viewing is just around the corner here so I picked up a few bottles of Sake to help enjoy the view.
Check out the Museum and Ito. You have until May 6th to do so.
