Paint by Number.

Even as a child I had a problem with Christmas.  Beyond all the religious trappings, it just didn't make sense.  Everyone was supposed to be happy and full of joy.  But everyone I knew seemed to be uptight, stressed, and lost.  I never ever really got what I wanted for Christmas.  If you knew my Mom, you understand.  I learned thrifting from Mom.  You never ever bought full retail...that was just silly.  A lesser brand, or cracked, chipped item was just as good.  When I wanted a GI Joe doll...GI Bob arrived.  I wanted a stereo player...floor model phono player to spin tunes.  Yikes!  " Wait until the kids see your new mono kids"  I can't even mention the year my brother Joe and I got luggage!  That was the big gift!  (a hint maybe).  Joe said to me, "It better be filled with f......g money!"

Remember paint by number?  When I was young my Aunts and Uncles still sent gifts.  Never big, a gesture, really...a dollar gift.   It was cool, as it added to the pile.   One year my Aunt Margret gave me a paint by number set.   She felt I needed the outlet or the therapy.

Funny how creepy a clown painting by number can appear.  I mean if you had problems with clowns, this would surely put you in therapy.  But I did not get a set of clown paintings.

I guess because of my great love for hunting and nature...I received "Deer Drinking or Peeing in a Stream # 45".  But get this, I remember taking out all the paints and the canvas,...and just starring at them.  I understood how  I was suppose to paint...number method.  But...I flipped over the canvas and painted my own painting.  I think it was an abstact comtempory ,Piet Mondrian.  Mom thought it was interesting, but that I should try to paint with the restraints of the number method.  It would teach me classical forms.  YIKES! After finishing of the Deer in the Woods, Mom checked my work.  "I like them both, but this seems more like you."   I loved her.  She probably thought I should attempt to stay with in the rules.  Just once.  But it wasn't Mom's way.  She just encouraged me to be myself.  I miss her.

This is the paint by number I really wanted!!!