SUITABLE FOR FRAMING: TALES OF THE MIRADO BLACK WARRIOR, IV

You know, some artists struggle for years and years and years to get their work publically displayed. After only about a month or so of doodling, suddenly MY work is, already, on display. Here's th' rest of th' story.

I was out some time before Yule to visit my daughter, Sunflower, in Erie where she lives. Being almost IN the lake itself (go outside on the sidewalk and spit north and you're at LEAST halfway to the Lake itself from her house) I was amazed at how much SNOW there was, forgetting what it was like to live thar in the snowy-beltt myself in the BC days (Before Children).

We drove about not sure what to do w/ourselves when it was decided we should go out to eat. "What's 'round here?" I asked and almost immediately Sunflower said, "I dunno."

Teenagers...

So we start driving and soon enuff come across a Smokey Bones deeply nestled in snow in a parking lot not too far from some great big mall complex. We go in, and almost IMMEDIATELY I see that one of the menu features is the Pulled Pork Sandwitch.

"I'll be right back, I need to run to the car," I say to Sunny.

"Why? What're you getting?"

"Pencils!" I say o'er my shoulder, jangling the car keys in my hand. I came back in with my stuff and, flipping o'er the placemat that had MERRY CHRISTMAS! writ on it in red and green crayon, I began to scribble a standing figure.

The waiter saw it and said that it didn't look at all like him, so I put in a beard and a hat and this is (more or less-- I redrew it) the result:
Now, in my original drawing the pig's legs were on a rope that was tied to a doorknob and, due to bad planning, I ran out of space on the right side of the page, so you'll just have to imagine the door that suspends the pig.

The waiter walked by, paused and looked at my drawing and then asked in a perfectly reasonable voice, "are you done with this? Cuz if you are, I wanna hang it up."

And he did. Far back by the drink station and the cash register. It's my first galleried piece of art. So, if you happen to find yourself in Erie, stop on by and stand in admiration of my work, hand to your mouth, brows furrowed in concentration, and I'll say thankee, sai, big-big!!