BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

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I’m not quite sure why I’ve become so attached to this annual festival of arts. It’s not like I am an art freak or a cultural guru. Yet for some reason, the Coconut Grove Art Festival is one of my favorite events to attend of any genre.

I think it dates way back to my childhood. You’d probably think a ten-year-old boy would normally be bored being dragged by his mother to an art show for five hours, but yet I wasn’t. Maybe it was the excitement of seeing unusual and neat things? Maybe it was all the good food? Maybe it was seeing all the weird people walking the streets? Maybe part and parcel. But I think it’s my memory of actually having a good time with my mother. I’ve previously written that those good times were few and far between. So my recollection from all those years ago is one of those precious moments when we bonded and had a great time together. I’ve also written that we’ve since reconciled from all those unhappy times and things are great between us…

Now it has become an annual event for mom and I. She comes down from Vermont and spends a week with me. We have a blast together. We shop and cook gourmet every night. She helps interior decorate my new apartment which is normally a yearly occurrence. But I think the highlight of her trip for both of us is the art show. It’s not your typical art show of various paintings. Oh sure there are tons of watercolors, photography, oils, and the like. But perhaps more interestingly, there is such a wide variety of mass media sculptures and just bizarre-looking stuff. There is even an art show within the art show. It's called the St Stephens Art & Craft Show and is every bit as interesting as the big show and a bit more affordable.

It’s a minimum five-hour walk to see everything. It’s a happening. It’s fun to people watch and sample a plethora of different foods. You can meet and talk to practically every one of the 375 artists if you desire. Oh and did I mention it costs a mere $5 to get in? My son is nearing 10. I wonder if he’d be interested as I was back then. I wonder if he’d have fond memories of going to the art show with his father? I’m thinking yes, he would. For me, the show now represents tradition. A tradition of a fabulous time, the best time, hanging out with someone you truly love. Thanks mom for a great week. And one of these years, I’d sure like to share this tradition with a yet-to-be determined loved one.