My home town -- my sons' acting ground

 Is it really love?

Black marker on Moleskine paper

6 x 9 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012

Roxanne

Black marker on Moleskine paper

6 x 9 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012

Yesterday we packed up the car and took the
long trip back down south to Windsor, Ontario.
Our son Sam was performing his final monologue,
based on the life of Jack Kevorkian.  Sam wrote
and acted out the monologue which was
powerfully sad. When Sam stayed at the
theatre to talk to his class afterwards we went for a long
walk by the Detroit river -- the two of us both shaken
up and disturbed by Sam's intense and moving
performance, and filled with pride for him.

Steven and Sam talk about Sam's plans

at the City Grill Restaurant in Windsor.

Both of our sons took acting at the university of
Windsor, and like me spent four years in that
city.  Sam will be coming home at the end of
this term and launching out into the world.  This
trip I was moved by the thought of not returning
for some time.  I was born in Windsor, and left
when I was four.  I kept hearing the song
 "My HomeTown" by Bruce Springsteen
 playing in mymind while we were there.
I have vague memories of being a happy child
in Windsor, and now amazing, and poignant memories
of watching my children perform. 

Today we visited the Art Gallery of Windsor with
Sam before heading home. I was grateful
to the docent, Lynn Newman who was engaging
and enlightening about the Mary Wrinch paintings
and prints on the third floor. A dynamic self portrait
by a woman painter I'd never heard of before -- Bobs
Cogill Haworth was magnificent.

 Self portrait

Bobs Cogill Haworth

Oil on linen

Art Gallery of Windsor

Sam, Steven and I walked through a door in the gallery
 into one of the beautiful glass-walled rooms looking out
over the Detroit river. The space was set up for a tea the
next day, with different gorgeous china tea sets on each table.

The glassed in space shaped like the prow of a ship

set up for a tea party.

For a china freak like me this was a visual treat.

On the trip home we drove as far as London today
 on country rodes passing by apple groves shimmering
with pink blooms in the sunshine.  The sight was one of
 the most beautiful I have ever seen, and there seemed to be
about 20 miles of orchards on one side of the road,
while the glorious blues of Lake Erie attracted us
on the other side of the two lane highway.

Steven looks out over Lake Erie

We drove down to Port Stanley to walk on the beach. Then
after trying to get dinner at three different restaurants with no
success we decided just to head home, and the cats were
glad we did.

I feel like I've been away for a week with so many
fascinating experiences.  Aside from Sam's impressive
 work, the best part of the trip was travelling with
Steven enjoying the chance to listen to music or
hilarious talk radio, and to dream and plan together.

Have a enjoying-a-fabulous-trip day.