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Aunt El

Eleanor Harris…..Aunt El…..most often dressed in flowing dark to mahogany brown slacks with loose, artsy, colorful silk tops and rippling paint splashed scarves tied around her long slender neck.  Her deep brown eyes glitter behind her heavy, black, horn- rimmed bifocals as she watches me navigate their family room furniture to join her in her studio.  The full lipped smile coming from her perfect olive skinned face framed in salt and pepper wiry short hair envelopes my entire being and assures me that I am truly welcome in her world.  I am entering her sacred temple where I have her unconditional permission and encouragement to completely be me.  My fears, doubts and cares fall away as I cross that threshold.  How much lighter and freer I feel.

“What are we making today?” I ask with eager anticipation.

Aunt El is wearing a smock to protect her outfit and it is covered with dried glue, glitter and paint.  There are a jumble of cardboard wine bottle covers shoved into the corner by her work table.

“I’m making a circus for the grand kids.  You want to try making your own toy?”

“Sure, that looks like fun!  Can I see the circus?”

Aunt El shows me all of the clowns, tumblers, aerialists, mannequins and puppets she has already glued together, painted and glittered.  There are almost enough characters for a one ring circus.  Harlequin colors, bright red noses, flaming orange and bright yellow wigs…..all of her creations seem nanoseconds from stepping forward, alive and vibrant.  She really has the knack for transforming art into life.

She gives me four bottle covers, glue, paint and glitter.  She shows me how to make paper strips moistened with a flour and water thin paste used to attach the parts of the bottles together after I cut out the pieces I want to use.

“Let your imagination go,” she beams.   “You can make your circus figure look any way you want it to look.  You get to decide.”

I don’t really remember what I made that day out of those four bottle covers.  What I do remember is the way Aunt El invited me to share her world.  How she encouraged and supported my 7 year old attempt to create my own performer and her loving and heart felt praise of my finished project.

She provided me a world in which I could make a mess and try new ways of making something fun out of disposable scraps.  Because she was there for me I had an environment in which to grow, thrive and learn to trust and love myself.

Indeed, Aunt El was my mentor and savior.

©  Doccharli  10/11/08