Broken Corset

I had an epiphany the other day while sitting through the art docent training for my daughter’s elementary school.  I am just like Picasso.  If you know me, this seems hard to believe.  I’m really not the artistic type.  All the walls in my home are neutral beige and the trim is white.  I prefer myself in some combination of a white, grey or blue shirt paired with jeans or khakis. 

So, maybe you’re guessing now.  I’m amazingly passionate , Van Gogh-style, the cut your ear off type of gal.  But no, that’s not it either.  I may be passionate in my opinions, but entirely practical in my actions.  Boring even.  I have no desire to part with any pieces of my person.  

I realized that I am Picasso when learning a bit about Picasso’s masterpiece, The Tragedy.  The Tragedy is a famous painting from Picasso’s blue period, depicting a family standing on a beach, emotionally distant, suffering.  In The Tragedy, Picasso masterfully portrays the cold misery of the family using only the color blue.  As I came to realize that the use of a singular color created a masterpiece, it occurred to me, “I am just like Picasso!”

What?????????

Yes, it’s true.  I am just like Picasso… and I bet you are too. 

I was an artiste the other day when I opened my refrigerator, to find it basically empty, and nonetheless managed to put together a healthy meal from the odds and ends available.  I demonstrated my talent when I fixed the hole in my daughter’s beloved nighty… not with a sewing machine, but with a little glue from the junk drawer.  When we created an amazing leprechaun trap for the kindergarten last year out of cardboard, the weeds from our yard, and crayons – we were creating a masterpiece of untold portions. 

All these moments when I have felt disorganized or unprepared, yet managed to pull something together, I have not been the harried failure I have thought.  I have been following in the footsteps of a master – who successfully conveyed a depth of emotions using only one ingredient – blue paint.  No longer will I hear myself make the comment, “Don’t worry honey, it will work just fine” and think that I am convincing my children to accept mediocrity to cover up for my own lack of preparation. 

I now know, after this wonderful epiphany, that I am a master.  I sometimes work with limited resources, time, or expendable brain power… but I too am creating little masterpieces all the time.  The next meal I scrounge around for, I will bring to the table with triumphant music playing in my head.  “Here is my latest masterpiece!” I will say.  What a refreshing way to look at things.  Thank you Picasso, The Tragedy managed to bring a great deal of happiness to me this week.