Sculpt no. 11 – Casino Limbo Lola Lupone (named after the tragic showgirl of Copacabana fame, & Patti LuPone, whom I adored from the very first time I saw her perform, Evita, in 1979) is the third of four characters living in my latest sculpt, Casino Limbo. Lola Lupone, though stuck in Casino Limbo, doesn’t seem to care where she is. Her mind remains in love with itself, and her heart remains infatuated with her head.
(I plan to post each character individually before posting the full tableau – as they’re not full-view once positioned ’round the table.)
Three of us usually accompany her. Two of us push unwieldy shopping carts. Mom fills three carts every two weeks for nine ravenous people, one voracious dog, neighborhood visitors (back when it was quite common for neighbors to stop by) and of course, the Italians-the Italian relatives.
The store is bright. The bakery section smells of heaven. The produce aisle with its brazen display of foil-wrapped candies is my favorite. When Mom moves onto the adjacent aisle with two carts and one of our other sisters, my younger sibling and I begin stuffing our pockets.
Though Dolores and I believe these illuminated candies are ‘free’ — our better angels tell us to stow the candy deep.
Mom wouldn’t catch us for quite some time.
One of my favorite photos – Uncle Robert (Mom’s brother) always brought great gifts whenever he visited us from far-off California – this was the one visit he botched – then our smiling mother forced us to wear Uncle Rob’s gifts for a photo op. We were all quite miserable about it. Still – some of us attempted a smile… Top row – left top right Grace, Virginia; bottom row – Robert, Vito, Dolores, me
Well, it’s official – no turning back now – 2025 here were go…! am:)
be who or what you dream but just for today;) this little guy makes a black and white appearance in my illustrated book of love verse love of the monster available 12.15.16, maybe sooner:)
Happy Birthday to my beautiful mother, 81 years young today
when I mock sing Italian opera I think of you your voice gorgeous and liquid transcends she does her bella Carmella voice her fantastic smile the young life in those enchanted eyes out glittering the sparkly attire she enjoys wearing brighter still the personality beneath those bedazzled fabrics effervescent in style in life spirited as a child loving genuine embraces
warmer than any Paul Bunyan’s giant arms could offer endlessly enchanted am I of you your zeal, your zest passion beyond anything I might ever acquire but continually strive for because you are relentless in your drive for motion learning learned stunning in beauty still out, in and all about and when I mock sing Italian opera this year I will do so in Italian the language of my ancestors I’m enrolling in bella Carmella’s autumn Italian class for beginners ready am I to learn from the most fabulous woman in my world
I adore you mother of mine xoxo Carmella, 80 years of age pictured here
the tipping point there is one and this is it spinning on sharp hair like a top waiting to see which way the body falls I can already hear the thud welcome music to my ears eyes finally close rest now you’ll spin again tomorrow
she adored shoulder pads
tucked beneath her brassiere straps
the eighties rage
her build was delicate
not like her niece
who resembled a linebacker
if she didn’t slice the shoulder pads out of her fashion finds
Nina appreciated how the foam pieces squared-off her petite form
on her body, clothing draped as it was meant to
she had style and a talent for accessorizing
my aunt lived with grace, style and beauty
she remained dignified and lovely
even near the end
her eyes
gorgeous, dark and wide
unlike stacked boxes of jewels
and endless drawers of shoulder pads
irreplaceable gems
I miss their soft, elegant glow
still
Red Wolf
When I was little, Nina had a little fox stole that sat on the top a cushy chair in her bedroom.
Happy Birthday, Nina. Today, she would have turned 83.
anntogether 