Independence Day and an Ode to Audrey

I’ve never been largely patriotic but I do like the idea of Independence. It makes me think of my fave guilty pleasure movie (do I have any non-guilty pleasures?) Stuart Saves His Family and this scene where he and Laura San Giacomo yell out loud affirmations about things they want to be Independent of as the sky emits Fourth of July fireworks. I’d like to be independent of driving myself nuts trying to figure out to heal my health. It’s been sort of an albatross in my life for the last few years. I’ve gone through nutritionists, family physicians, dermatologists, massage therapists, colon therapists, tarot readers, herbalists, acupuncturists, astrologers, yoga teachers, and many many books. I definitely believe that food is medicine. I have tried high-protein, The Zone, Eat Right for Your Type (I was following the B diet for weeks then gave blood and found out I was actually an AB! I have AB- blood. Oye!), Ayurveda and various raw food diets. I think I’m settling on a nutrient-rich diet that includes a high percentage of raw foods with a little animal protein as needed. I have become aware that I am suffering from programitis. I have longed to find a way of life that heals me. Like a good student, I like to have a manual to follow. And like any sick person I want to be fixed. I guess the lesson for me is that there is no manual. Although, everything I have tried has taught me a little something. Getting sick made me realize that I cannot let me ego run my life. I can’t be Wonder Woman and expect to deadlift 3,000 lbs, work 8 hours a day then come home and paint for 8 hours more. There is more to life than achievement, there is . . . a life. In the past couple years I have let my healing be my priority and I have allowed myself enjoy more lazy Sundays. Now I feel I’m more ready to find a balance between renewal time and working time. I don’t know if I will ever quit my day job and be a full-time artist but I'm not pulling out of the race. If I’m a constant fixture in the art scene then I can’t be ignored. My new motto is “I don’t know how, but I will”.

So far this has been a strange summer. The weather has been very cool. I’m working on some new oil pastel works and going back to that same ole theory that what heals me . . . must also be useful for someone else. I’m filling my summer with time spent at Winnemac Park, walks on the lake, farmer’s market shopping, and visits to the Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, and Garfield Park. Last weekend I went to the Vietnamese neighborhood markets and had a ball. I just love looking at all those exotic teas and things. I had a fantastic non-dairy Durian smoothie with tapioca pearls. I also bought some frozen Durian which is now stinking up my fridge but I don’t care because I love it!

One dream did come true for me recently the Music Box featured my favorite Audrey Hepburn move, Sabrina!!! It was the first time I had ever seen it on the big screen. Sabrina is my comfort movie. You know when you come home from a bad date and you just need to be comforted by a good ole Cinderella story, well Sabrina does it for me. Plus the clothing is legendary. If I ever get married I want a dress like the Givenchy white “yards of skirt and way off the shoulder” dress she wore at the Larrabee party. I also love the black sparkly cocktail dress she wore on the date with Linneas. That little hat is genius. All Givenchy hats are actually. I want to copy her summer casual look she wore on the boat—white shorts (but not vulgar, Audrey Hepburn was never vulgar), tied striped shirt and hoop earrings. I love the short pixie cut. She was truly a work of art. And here voice and accent. It's a voice that has good posture. I’m sure when Audrey emerged on the scene she was quite a breath of fresh air in contrast to the vava voom stars like Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren. Audrey never needed to flirt or be obviously sexual. She just simply was and the world loved her for it. For those of us without curves she is our style icon. My body just lacks sex appeal but having great style can really help a girl. Bring on the ballerina flats, shorts, scarves and big sunglasses. Of course women and gay men love the Audrey look and straight men prefer the vava voom girls but that’s another blog at another time . . .