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VACATION IN RETROSPECT
Tomorrow, school will resume. Girlish hands will be pulled and pushed into gloves and unruly locks covered with the regulation hat. Feet that have run free for most of the summer will be reluctantly shod in brown lace-ups.
As I look back over the past summer, I wonder what will happen to the companions of vacation time.
It all started with the "fair damsel in distress". A passion for pretty ladies found an outlet in an old green skirt (garb for many a tropical fishing expedition) and the torn-off bottom of a large paper grocery sack to which was attached an old very worn lace curtain. All this added up to one lady, mediaeval.
Through this love of pretty things, we discovered two of the greatest artists of all time - Goya and Michaelangelo. Goya's paintings of beautiful women ran a little ahead of Michaelangelo's wonderful "David".
Now, a school opening looms closer, culture and prettiness have given way to an adapted version of an ancient pastime.
Matt Dillon strides around the homestead with his Marshal's badge made from an out-of-date Chronicle; an old, upturned straw hat to shade his eyes; and a popgun and cap gun slung in an old port strap around the hips. We are asked to "holler" for a Marshal.
Tomorrow can't come quickly enough, and being in Grade 1 is a grand thing. New events will take precedence, and I wonder what will remain.
I hope that the colour and wonder of beautiful things will not fade, but I pray that Matt Dillon will, as all good cowboys do, walk off into the sunset.
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Miss Eagle reports that the colour and wonder of beautiful things has never faded. Herself is a collector and a decorator and a stylist. A beautiful shop has come - and has just gone - but it is clear beauty will never fade from her life as she styles a corner here and a laundry there. Matt Dillon remains somewhere off in the sunset.
6 comments:
Hello,
This is my first visit to your blog and am blown away by your essay---am I to understand you wrote this at 6 yrs of age?!! I'm more than impressed. Wow!!
I can't wait to read more.
Abby
Do you still have the copy you wrote at 6 years of age? It would be good to compare with this one.
Good memories of a carefree time of life.
Sorry people. Miss Eagle is a late developer rather than a child prodigy. She has re-read what she has written and can understand the misunderstanding. Apologies! Miss Eagle is the Mumma. When she writes of her 42 year old daughter with whom she lives she refers to her as Herself. The femine version of the Irish Himself - you know 'Tis Himself, so it is, so it is! Well, it is Herself, so it is, so it is! So, when this piece was written, Herself was not quite six years of age. Miss Eagle, the writer, was a young mum of not quite 26 years of age. So having given Herself's age away, a little arithmetic will give you Miss Eagle's exterior age. Oh dear, oh dear! Please remember she is only 18 on the inside! :-) :-) :-)
Well, I'm glad that has cleared that up. It has, hasn't it??? Ah, so I'm not the only one who totally giddy with confusion!
Well, whoever wrote it, and when - it's still good.
Love the post. And the explanation here!!!
Good eyes on the house in my blog - it is actually in South Townsville/Railway Estate. This area, which was once the "poor" end of town is now the place to be - everyone is fixing up their miner's cottages and they are truly adorable :) West End has become one of the more dangerous areas - many break-ins over that way :( but still some gorgeous houses.
I love this post. I too was 6 years old in 1970 and heading into Grade 1. Love the photo of your daughter in her school uniform. I have one eerily similar.
PS. I did the bookish meme. Thanks!
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