The Stream of Life’s Connectivity…Skinny Girl Meets Octavio’s Whales

In the woods of Missouri – not the backwoods as they say – but a verdant jungle of deciduous over-growth concealing luxury homes in the quiet gated lake community of Innsbruck near Wright City – I find myself in a whirlwind of peculiar influences, associations, elements and discoveries. For example, I’m sitting here taking my first sip of a “Skinny Girl” margarita after having just read about the Bethenny blast on the scene in Forbes, June 6, 2011 edition while flying here yesterday. My sister-in-law said that she had two bottles of this mix, my other sister-in-law piped up and said “Oh yeah, she just sold her concoction for millions.” I said “I just read about her on the plane…why didn’t I do that – I could have done that – I drink – I make margaritas from scratch – I watch carbs…” I would have, should have, could have – but, sadly didn’t do it! Another FABULOUS missed opportunity!!! And so we drank.
Then that same first sister-in-law said “Oh, here it is – remember this?” (No, I had not seen it during our previous visit). She grabbed this small bronze figure off of her end table where we were gathered in the glassy treetop room – and there before me was one of Octavio Gonzales’ graceful hump-backed whale sculptures!! What a contrast in settings to discover this wonderful miniature done by an artist, whose work we had admired for years and now enjoy the pleasure of knowing, who did the magnificent, enormous art piece at the entry of the marina in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico of a mother humpback and her offspring, here in the deep mid-western woodland. Whoa – where are we? Watch for one or more pieces of Octavio’s work in exhibit in Albuquerque this summer!
So as the day waned and the overcast ceiling grayed to a dim backlit through the trees, we migrated to the Cedar Lake Winery for an evening of fabulous music by a local duo, Kaylor and Tomasino, whose harmony was in perfect sync, guitar strumming robust, punctuated by banjo, harmonica and flute for a lively collection of popular renditions including Del Amitri’s “Roll to Me” and “Matchbox 20’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s” crowd pleasing a range of ages from the college kids collected along the bar to the middle-aged mom’s clapping and dancing in their seats…the wine flowed freely and we closed the place with a satisfying buzz.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend wherever you are gathering with friends and family…