(Photo from Tomie’s closet.) It has been suggested to me that I write a book because of the daily remembrances. And, it was suggested to me many other times during the decades working for Tomie. I would reply, “I AM working on a book called TOMIE DEAREST.” Tomie would say, “He’s on Chapter 1,563,” or some random number. I would add, “The chapters are not short.” Unlike a story Tomie loved to tell about Ethel Merman’s autobiography, MERMAN. The chapter titled, “My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine,” was one blank page. (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
REMEMBERING TOMIE on June 30, 2020
(Photo from Tomie’s “Mercer Room,” Christmas, 2016) There we were, a neighbor and I, on a humid Sunday morning, a few days before the 4th of July, in the grocery store, by the bread, talking through our masks about Christmas lights. The neighbor was commenting about ugly Christmas light displays which reminded me of Tomie’s declaration many, many years ago that all decorations at Christmas were beautiful, magical, and wonderful. His pronouncement was tested. There was the Christmas tooth on the side of a house near here. As thousands would travel north to see the lights at La Salette in Enfield, NH, we would travel south to see the Christmas tooth. We imagined the goal was a light display in the shape of a bell, but the result looked more like a tooth to us. Then there was the house in town divided in the middle into two living quarters. White candle lights on one side and blue on the other. The last straw might have been the inflatables - inflated during the evening, but sadly lying flat on the ground during the day. Friends in Concord, MA, took us by the house of one of their neighbors. An inflated Santa on the porch. It seemed so out of place on the porch of famous historian DKG (enough information to google). I reminded Tomie of his remark every Christmas. As the years went on, he wavered. (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
REMEMBERING TOMIE on June 29, 2020
(Photo does not illustrate story. Embroidery by Brita Ek.) It was five years ago when Tomie became a rabbi. We were invited to Adolfo and Steve’s wedding on the campus of Brandeis University, outside of Boston. We arrived very early. Traffic was light and the ceremony began later than the invitation time. I was dressed as a secret service agent and Tomie was clothed Tomie-style. As we sat in the waiting area, Tomie was invited to witness the signing of the ketubah. After he left the room, one of Steve’s relatives asked me, “Is he the rabbi?” We decided Tomie became Rabbi dePaolawitz at that moment. (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
REMEMBERING TOMIE on June 28, 2020
Tomie was eager to take a former Pratt Institute classmate into his house. He expected her - let’s call her Bianca - to exclaim, “Tomie, what a beautiful home!” Instead, as Tomie and Bianca crossed the threshold, Bianca said, “Who the h#$l cleans all this s#$t?” A sentiment possibly thought by many, but never so audibly and eloquently expressed. Tomie could see art in almost everything and deserving of display in some way. Consider the photographs of three kitchen shelves. I was amused one day when he stood for several minutes, ten or so, trying to find room for a small object on one of the shelves. He did find space, but not without considerable effort. (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
REMEMBERING TOMIE on June 27, 2020
All of Tomie’s drawings for “Sunglasses Day” are funny. Here’s the one from 2017. (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
