Happy Mother's Day

 Bored boy lunching at the MoMA

Black marker on Moleskine paper

6 x 9 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends who are
mothers, and to everyone's mothers.  My friend
Betsy Anderson reminded me that the day
was originally proposed by Julia Ward Howe
in 1870 to encourage mothers around the world
to push for peace. In 1914 when American
president, Woodrow Wilson declared the first national
Mother's Day, that meaning was lost.  But we can
regain it.  Mothers around the world joined to
demand peace can help create change.

Today we were very tired.  We hiked home last night from
the restaurant to our hotel, a long and wonderful walk.
But today we would gladly have slept all day, but this was
it -- the last day in the big Apple -- New York.
 I missed my big boys -- both in Toronto now. And I
missed my mother, but was glad I'd sent her
flowers on Thursday to beat the rush, and we talked
today. My mother is a great role model.  She is brave
 and cheerful and I was so happy to talk to her.

Mrs. Hugh Hammersley

Oil on canvas

John Singer Sargent

1892

All over New York City people were treating their
mothers like queens -- taking them for breakfast and
lunch, buying them presents, taking them to art shows.
It was touching to see.

We went to the Met in the morning, and I loved seeing
 the new Sargent exhibit, the Fauves,
and the Schiaparelli and Prada Impossible Conversations
show -- displaying the fashions of the two designers,
and films directed by Baz Luhrmann showing the possible
conversations about fashion the two designers might have
had if they could have met. In the films seen throughout
the exhibit Judy Davis plays Schiaparelli, and Prada is Prada.

We ate lunch at the MoMA, and I went to see the Matisse
and Monets.  Just before hopping in a taxi to head home we
walked to Central Park for one last look.  Goodbye New York.
We love you.

Have a Happy Mother's Day.