Rose of Many Colors by June Pauline Zent
PRINTS AVAILABLE CLICK http://artzent.dyndns.org/?p=176
An original soft pastel painting on linen board
We drove out to Alternate AIA by the ocean where you could still park along the water side of the road, open the window, and feel the salty air on your face. ” You disappeared for twenty years, he said accusingly.”Where have you been?”
It was a long story beginning with a train ride from West Palm Beach, Florida to Great Falls, Montana all alone and only fifteen years old. My guardian grandparents had signed a legal document to allow me to marry the man of my dreams; or so I thought. Actually I wore them down to that point. He lied for a year telling me that he was from a different high school when really he was a 18-year-old Air Police man at the local air base that I had dated for a year. Now he was stationed in Montana. Before he left he had given me an adorable heart-shaped diamond ring. He was all that I could think about and I cried constantly. After dropping out of school I took a job at the local Gray Hound bus station serving snacks but got fired because of the crying. I was Miss Gloom station.
Long story short: After leaving the service we moved to his parents home in Los Angeles, California where he entered UCLA. We had a son and a daughter and were married for ten years. It ended because he outgrew me and chased ever skirt in sight! He also became an abusive jerk towards the kids and me. Finally he told me that I should take the kids and go home to Florida. I took him up on it and divorced him soon after.
In due time I met my second husband who was just the opposite of the first. We had four kids together: another long story. After ten years the marriage fell apart. It was my fault mostly because I ran full steam the whole ten years not knowing why. At one point I was a part-time pre-med student in college, chief lab assistant of the biology department, rearing six kids, and showing my artwork at regional shows. The trigger came when my autistic son was dismissed from the special school he had attended for two years. I was told that he was too disruptive for what was to become a model special school. I was devastated and heart broken. His father and I had done everything that we were told to do sometimes at the expense of time and resources for the other kids. I was the president of the mothers group at the school that now abandoned him. That’s when I packed up the four younger kids and moved to Jupiter.
So here I am not knowing what comes next but desperately wanting a different life for the kids and myself.
He sat quietly through my story hardly saying a word. Then he said, “Do you remember when we were kids and I saw you walking down the street by the school wearing that fancy jacket emborered with dragons and glittering stones; the one that Julian Rider had sent you from Japan?” I replied, “Yes I do remember that jacket”. “Well,he continued, at the time I thought to myself, I can never buy her something as great as that!” He grinned and reaching his arm out pulled me to his chest, then he gave me the tenderest kiss I had ever known!
We drove around the area for hours talking non stop. Then he put a tape into the deck with a duo singing. He said,” Do you know who this is ?” I knew that the female voice was Dinia Shore’s but not the male voice. He laughed, “That’s me!” This was just the beginning of me getting to know him (Burt Reynolds) as a grown up Buddy. I was to learn much, much, more and so will you with the continuing story. Hope to see you here!
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Very difficult , I read this confession in one breath . The amazing power of the people. Truly touching . Thank you for this post are sharing with us
Thank you Stefan, your words touch me more than you know.
I am learning things I didnt know about you. Keep telling the story, waiting to hear the next chapter!
Thank you Sharon! These are stories that I need to tell. I hope you are not upset by them. There is a lot more. Thank you for commenting!
I hope you keep telling them. When I write things down, it makes me see things more clearlly as It probably does for you. I will keep following these stories.
Yes sharon, I write them down in longhand and one memory leads to another . It is as if living it all over again. Never thought that I could do this but so far it seems ok. and somewhere along the way I hope it helps other people.
The art brought me in but the story has me wanting more!
Thank you for liking the art. I will continue the story soon and your comment is encouraging.
So I’m figuratively regurgitating in shock and disbelief at the astounding awesomeness of your art!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS! It’s brilliant! Captivating! I am so telling you, I am sick with jealousy. Wow! (What a story, too. Well related, too. I can only imagine how hard it is to tell, but you’re doing it well.)
OH MY GOODNESS! I don’t think that I have ever had such an awesome comment!. There are not enough adjectives to thank you. I wish that you lived closer and I could teach you to draw and paint. I know that you would be really great.
Can’t wait to read what follows in this story
Painting it’s too complicated for me to do, except my walls and fence, but this doesn’t stop me to admire your work.
Have a beautiful week.
Thank you so much for the lovely comment. I am glad the you are following the story and I will post the next one soon. Wishing you a beautiful week also!
Love the story, LOVE the painting, loving and anticipating how everything is coming together! It’s such a great thing to know that real life can become the basis of such vivid stories and draw people in. Oh, the power of words. I’m looking forward to your next post! 🙂
What great compliments Lillian! Comments like this help to get me past my hesitation to tell such personal stories but they need to be told. thank you so much for having my back and enjoying the artwork. I hope that you day is awesome!
Hi ! I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. two-award
I think your blog is fabulous. Best wishes!!
Oh, I am so humbled and honored! Thank you so much Stefan. I am going to find a way to thank everyone for the nominations that they bestowed on me including you. You are so kind and you blog is wonderful!
I can’t wait for the next Installment, and I know that all the other bloggers agree with me. This is a heart warming story, I hope someone lets Buddy know about your blog. Oh wait I think I know someone that will be able to do just that. Love my little sister, Marlene
Chances are he knows nothing about blogs but it doesn’t matter to me. However, He might not like what I write down the line. That also does not matter to me .I love for you and all the other bloggers to read the stories. If they and you like them it is worth the effort. Thank you again for coming here and commenting. I love you
The flower is beautiful and the story is great! I can’t wait to hear the rest…
Thank you so much Maggie. Go to continued three where you can read more but not the rest because I have not written it yet. I am very glad that you like to artwork and the story. I have to cut it into pieces because its very long.
I’ve been away, so I’m working my way through 149 new posts! But I may just skip ahead and read yours first 🙂
I know how you feel it’s hard for me to keep up and I have not been away. No worries,read it when you can
Still loving this story and I can’t wait until the next installment. I do hate it that you and your kids had to go through abuse from your Air Pilot husband. I remember when you went back to live with Granny in Fla. in the garage appartment, for a little while. I dont know where that fits in with your story timeline though, as being a kid, I didnt pay attention to dates and times of things. I just took everbody and everything for granted. I can remember Courtney, when you were dating him. He seemed like a nice man. Keep up your blog and your stories. I am trying to remember the parts I knew about, and fill in the blanks, lol I love you, your paintings and your blog. Your Cousin, Sharon
To me, this is your post , most beautiful among all your he’s my favorite
So glad that you think so Stefan. Your encouragement helps me to keep going!