REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 29, 2021

La Meridiana was a wonderful Italian restaurant in Wilmot Flat, a town near New London.

We were there for dinner on one of the last days of a January. It happened to be one of the coldest days of the winter.

Piero Canuto, chef-owner, explained that in his homeland, the Piedmont area of Italy, the last three days of January are called Le Giornate della Merla. The days and nights at the end of January are usually so cold that white doves hide in the chimney tops to stay warm. The doves are black from the soot when they come out.

That was enough for Tomie to create a story and book, DAYS OF THE BLACKBIRD.

Tomie’s illustrations are beautiful. The book is out-of-print except in eBook format. I hope it becomes available again in print form.

As it turns out, the last three days of this January will be the coldest ones so far this winter in New London. (Bob)

Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality

REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 28, 2021

Christmas, 1983. Tomie photo-bombing “official portrait” of Charles Massey (at left) and friend.

Charles lived in a great apartment at a terrific location in New York City: West 70-something Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues.

He let us stay there many times, including Christmastime, 1983. Midnight Mass was at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Christmas dinner was at the Plaza Hotel.

“Parachute” was one of the trendy clothing shops near Charles’ apartment. As I was trying on an article of clothing, Tomie asked about its durability. The young, uninterested, waif clerk dryly replied, “Our customers usually wear their clothes only once.”

“Charivari” was one of Tomie’s favorite clothing stores not too far from Charles’ home. Tomie bought a coat there that looked great on him because it was dramatic.

A long, wide, and heavy panel was at the neck. It was meant to be dramatically thrown around the neck and opposite shoulder similar to the way a scarf might be draped.

We were in Boston walking across Copley Square with a friend one blustery fall day when a gust of wind caused the coat panel to un-drape and hit face-on the friend walking alongside him.

When Tomie was wearing that coat, it was necessary to safely socially distance from him before social distancing was a thing.

We often mused that being fashion forward could be a lot of work… and a bit dangerous. (Bob)

Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality

REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 27, 2021

Christmas, 1983. We were in between houses, so we spent Christmas in NYC at Charles Massey’s apartment and New Year’s in chilly Key West.

Here we are in front of Radio City Music Hall with sister Maureen. Charles, a theatrical agent, had arranged for us to see the Christmas show and get a backstage tour after the show. (Bob)

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REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 26, 2021

Left to Right: daughter/sister-in-law Marion and brother Joe dePaola, Jr. (aka Buddy), father Joe, Sr., mother Flossie (face obscured by the flower tucked behind Maureen’s ear), sister Maureen (back to camera), Tomie (do vertical stripes make a person look thinner or heavier?)

1968, the national Barber’s Union convention in Miami. The theme of this event was luau. Tomie’s father was president of the union. (Bob)

REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 25, 2021

There is a book series by Jeff Brown featuring “Flat Stanley.” The first book was published in 1964 and illustrated by Tomi Ungerer.

Stanley is squashed flat by a bulletin board while sleeping. He discovers one of the advantages of being flat is that he can mail himself in an envelope and visit the world.

Classrooms who read this book would mail their Flat Stanleys and request replies describing Stanley’s adventures.

We tried, with Tomie’s replies, to share stories of Stanley’s activities, but answering all of the requests was daunting.

So, I began to take photos of Tomie with the various “flat” characters, and force anyone who came in contact with Tomie to appear in “flat” photos.

In these photos, I met Tomie at the Manchester, NH, airport with a “flat” cow.

Bill and Charles Massey, visiting from the Outer Banks, couldn’t escape a “flat” photo.

Nor could Natasha Robinson and Jerod Rockwell who had come to the barn to discuss a catering event.

I wasn’t Jeff Brown’s biggest fan for writing that book. (Bob)

Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality