Once upon a time in an enchanted fungi forest lived a funny little family…
There were two parents and two broomhilda daughters. 5 1/2 years apart, were born these two daughters… And boy, were they good at bickering. The older of the two pleaded with her parents as they drove by the hospital where the younger was born "Please can’t we drop her off there, where you got her…" As the younger daughter learned to talk and understand, the older daughter filled her head with disconcerting thoughts… The older would tell the younger, "Don’t get too cozy in this family, you were dropped off by Gypsies and we can send you back any time we want." The younger just listened wide-eyed and fearful. ( I know I was a meanie)
As the older of the daughters grew, she begged and pleaded with the younger sister to play dress up. The older loved to dress up and take photos. But the younger wanted no part of it. At times she would agree, with sufficient bribery payment. Other times the younger girl would simply hide way up high in a hidden nook in a linen closet. A space unreachable by anyone but herself.
The older thought she was in her own private fairytale life. The younger, quiet but mischievous, even though the adults did not notice…
One day when the girls were turning into young ladies, the oldest around 11 and the youngest around 6 or 7, the parents came home one evening and gathered them together for a "talk." The oldest, butterflies fluttering in her tummy, the youngest with her famous wide eyes, stared with questioning looks on their faces.
Their father, a wonderful father, stood beside them, while their mother, a wonderful, warm & chic lady, maker of heart shaped sandwiches, sat and slowly opened the palm of her hand. Showing the girls this funny little notice from the doctor’s office, that basically stated "baby on the way." WHAT? A baby. Holey Moley! Is what the 11 year old thought. Mom was having a baby, how weird… The older daughter really thought she was thirty. She was mature for her age, she loved make-up and music… Falling in love was her favorite thing, and dreaming of being on a stage with throngs of screaming fans surrounding her while she played her piano(never happened but she still dreams). Funny enough, she does not know what the younger sister thought about a baby on the way. Maybe she should ring her up now and ask her? Anyhow, all I can say is that mom and dad were pretty much in shock, as this was an unplanned little bambini.
Needless to say, that summer was a wonderful summer for the older girl. It was 7th grade going into 8th grade summer. Tennis lessons, riding bikes with girlfriends into town, giddy for life. And, her mother was as big as a house. With her own set of issues.. So, the older daughter felt free. Noone really nagging her… Like I said, her mother had her own issues. You see, this big baby was sitting in the legs crossed fashion with his bottom to mommies belly button and his face towards mommies spine. His head sad right smack in the most uncomfortable place. It felt to this mom, that this baby’s head was right smack in the middle of her chest all of the time. Oh, she howled about it. So uncomfortable. She wore the funniest dress that whole summer, her belly so outrageoulsy huge. It was a long white cotton dress with black polka dots.
This poor mom was given knews that she might need a c-section (not so huge back then) because the baby was breached. So she swam and swam every night, anything to change her fate. Until one day, close to the birth, while at the grocery store, she felt a pain so horrible, so inexplicable, she still cringes when telling the story. This big baby flipped into the perfect position, all on his own, in one fell swoop. The mother thought she might collapse, her body holding on to the shopping cart for dear life…
A couple weeks later, a boy child was born into the family. Little Adam. Joining his older sisters Vanessa and Kristen. Oh how they loved him. Vanessa, the older daughter, would kiss him until he would scream. She couldn’t get enough of the heavenily new born baby scent. Oh how the girls loved him. One tragedy almost stole the boy child away. A fall in the swimming pool when he was about 1.5 years old. Social workers picked up the older girl, Vanessa, at school. Her parents were in awful shape at the hospital. He was air lifted to a bigger city. Almost losing the boy. A memory better forgotten. But he lived. And might I say, we believe he may have gone to heaven for a short while, as he came back even brighter and better than ever. And, the unusual things he said…
Oh the stories are never ending, so much laughing, and of course teenage angst, three kids, all with a bag full of stories… Which, of course we will save for later…
However, the point of my story today, is that this boy just turned 20 years old. And he is such a terribly interesting fellow. Intelligent and talented… I feel like I am getting to know him more and more all of the time.. Little doors unlocking here and there. I was in college during his formative years, and now I am learning how alike we are… Alike in the sense, that there is this little place that we both have inside of us, like most of you have… A little place that only we know, a little place we can go to where imagination and creativity flies around, swirling like fireflies…
This place I speak of, is a little place where I think we both have tapped into… He phoned me the other night, and in his deep voice and very straightforward chat, he said, "Hey, I have another song for you…" When I played it, I was beside myself. For a second I thought, "Oh MY GOODness!! He has been there, he visited that secret space in my imagination, deep in my mind…" And then I realized, perhaps the reason our places seem so alike, is that we are brother and sister… Perhaps also the reason I feel he totally gets me, in the artistic sense…
Quite possibly, this moment in time might very well be a girl, living happily ever after. After all, it is simply a matter of perception…
A Peculiar Day, by Vanessa Valencia…
Music, Composed for A Peculiar Day, by Adam Valencia…
I love it! Tugs on my heart strings!! Adam also composed a song for "Strange Beautiful Lady" in July. You can, visit that tune here… Thank you Adam!!
PS: YouTube is giving us some issues with the photo quality. That is why I have placed a photo of the painting above the YouTube link…
PSS: As for what happened to the bickering sisters… Well, I adore my sister Kristen & we get along just lovely ! She is interesting and funny and smart!!! Only I wish her memories of me torturing her would disappear into the wind 😉
Hi V, sorry I havnt commented in awhile, but I have been around, busy,busy, packing for our big move back to the ”mainland”and getting house prepared for sale, I just loved this post and adam’s music is beautiful,.. is there more?? You have written beautifully AGAIN, do a book girl… oh and remember I told you I have only one child and guess what his name is…. Adam XXXOOOO
wowowo!
while i tormented my little sister
in much the same way,
telling her
she was adopted [me bad]…
i had no younger brother
to grow up
and
write music for me,
lucky you!
🙂
i had to marry
to procure my musician…
nice collaboration,
i must say!
I was super excited to have a brother. He and I were super close growing up and he didn’t torture me. You on the other hand…
Funny that you told this story. I was just telling some friends about the things you used to do to me. I can’t imagine life without Adam. He is like a rock.
Song is very good. I searched for it on youtube and couldn’t find it, what am I doing wrong?
P.S. call me. we have to talk about Larry.
aaah – what beautiful music. How lovely that you and your brother can create for each other an communicate in that way! I love the painting. Now how do you do that thingy where you get youtube on your blog? I tried it a couple time, failed, copped out with a screen shot. sigh.
Vanessa, darling, the music is wonderment! And your brother composed this!? Wow double triple axle WOW!
I was the youngest who got terrorized the most in my family. Although if you ask my sisters, they’ll tell you I was the most spoiled. heh heh!
Luv ya to the moon, girl!
Darling girl…this music so befits the art it’s incredible. The feeling it evokes in me is indescribable – I felt it in my soul and in the deep recesses of my imagination. There absolutely needs to be some real collaboration between the 2 of you! “Hello Dreamworks, may I please talk to Steven?”.
I grew up the 4th of 5 and the only girl…teasing and torment was rampant. (them to me) I’ve wished ALL my life for a sister and now I have many Fristers (friend sisters)…I count you among them!
XOXOXOXOXO
Oh, what a lovely post.
My brother and I are only 2 1/2 years apart, and as different as City Mouse, Country Mouse but we have that connection, too.
Oh my lordy that music is soooo beautiful and haunting and magical! It suits the picture perfectly. You have a wonderful brother!
So do I, I must say! It’s great to have awesome siblings hey? So many people I know don’t really get on with their brothers and sisters, but I couldn’t imagine life without my little brother – he’s my best friend (along with my lovely benny of course!). 🙂
Really, that music is just gorgeous. You must tell your brother how much everyone loves it! I think I am going to go an put on a suitable cd now – I’ve been transported to another place and feel quite whimsical, and I want to stay there! 🙂
Oh…what a beautiful piece…the talented boy wonder…Happy Birthday to him. I always wanted a brother, when my mother became pregnant when I was 7, I told her, “no…I am NOT excited…and it had better be a boy!” oh my…we did start off on the wrong foot, my sister and I…and she did adore me so when she was little…we had many off years and were horrible (people would not take us together on vacations) but we love each other now…she really is one of my favorite people on Earth…
Creativity runs in your family, share the love does too.
oh, lovely post! What a lucky boy to have such a loving sister! I bet your family dynamic of all girls really changed with his arrival! Isn’t it great to discover our siblings are lovely people we would want to be friends with even if we picked them? And what a talented family you have! Oh, and I wish my little sis would forget the tortuous things I did too. Worse, she tells my kids about them!
Sooo Vanessa you like to torment British people, you torture little sisters, you have an affinity with toadstools. Hhmm let me see, is this the behaviour of a hobgoblin or a fairy queen? Definetly something fae somewhere along the line!
Wow! I listened to “Strange Beautiful Lady” a few days ago and was just mesmerized.What sent chills up my spine was when you wrote, “He has been there, he visited that secret space in my imagination, deep in my mind…” – how beautifully put and wonderful that must feel!
Can’t help but be curious by the strange things he said after his pool accident.
happy birthday adam!!!!
I love these stories of your family, this is what I have missed being an only child, maybe the gypsies snatched ma away from your family and gave me to mine….you think?
I have 3 sisters and 3 brothers… I know about teasing and torture… I’m one of the youngest…. I love the song to go with your art!! beautiful!!!
I didn’t think it could ever happen.
I am speechless.
Gorgeous music and story Vanessa….that was really sweet! 🙂
OH, this was, methinks, the post to end all posts (though I know the next will be better, and then the next and the next!)….I sat, riveted, while I read! And then at the end a treat with lovely sounds! Your brother is very talented! 🙂
And so are You!!
What a wonderful story!!!
I think it is only normal for older sibblings to torture the younger. My brothers used to tie me up, and tickle me until I couldn’t stand it anymore!! Secretly I loved the attention.
How lucky to have such a talented brother!!!
I think it was so cute of God to match up the three of you…with your combination of talents… to keep all of us entertained, amused and gosh I feel so loved!
OOHLALALA!!! back at cha girly!! That tune is beguileing(charming!!!to divert my attention away!!) I even wrote lyrics to it as I listened,
You can see me
here
You can see me
there
Come see me
We’ll have a cup of tea
or
anyything
You’d like
just
Come see me
come see me,
oh darling
I’ll wait for you
or
we can meet
by the sea
let’s sing
our song
oh darling
just
come see me
Cro
So sweet… so beautifully written, as always.
Happy birthday Adam!
xo,
Karen Beth 🙂
mmm, that is wonderful, and really does seem to fit the mood of your painting perfectly 🙂 Thanks for sharing that 🙂
What a story….I must say at first I thought you were trying to say YOU were pregnant!! A little Fanciful baby!!! ha ha
I too am the oldest of 3…middle sister, baby brother, who just celebrated his birthday yesterday…oh how I tortured those 2…particularly him…thank goodness they have both forgiven me!!
Adam is so talented! I adore that tune. And happy birthday to him – those Scorpios, huh??!! Great story, too! xoxox
Those poor younger children. I always feel bad for my brother in the middle of seven children. He was so good.. noone paid him any attention… and then when we tried to sing to him on his birthday.. he got mad. Oh growing up. It’s all good now. 🙂
this is very fanciful…about my sisters…we won’t go there today…it’s my happy birthday…oh yeah…blessings, rebecca
oh dear oh dear oh dear…those little (or should I say BIG…HUUUUGE!) mushrooms are an absolute dream! And with the weather we are getting here I can imagine them with frosty icicles hanging down the edges which makes my imagination smile!
OMG! What beautiful, haunting, inspired music!! You are a lucky girl to have a brother with such awe inspiring talent!!! I guess it runs in your family 🙂 Happy Birthday to Adam.
I will listen to the video tomorrow, as the computer I am on doesn’t have sound..but what a wonderful birthday tribute to your brother….and those stories intrigue me about his heavenly visit….
Vanessa that song is beautiful. I could almost hear the rustling of her paper dress as she glided about the trees and giant mushrooms. Your brother is very talented…you’re so lucky to have one another!
I also was entirely too wicked to my little sister. We get along just swimmingly now but I do wish she’d lose those memories of me torturing her as well!
I am here via LisaOceanDreamer (isn’t she lovely !), I am Blue’s mum (another cutie !), this is my first visit and I am wondering why!
I have seen your art first hand at Gill’s, but paired with your brother’s breathtaking melodies..WOW!
You are a magical combination. You are obviously from a very deep and talented gene pool. Thanks for sharing this, and happy, happy birthday to Adam!
xox
Such a fascinating story, as always you tell the most interesting tales (you remind me that there are beautiful stories to be told in all our lives, if we only seek them out and treasure them). Happy birthday Adam, love your creative family.
Oh dear siblings, I wonder how my 3 boys will remember their childhood, as an only child myself I thought it important that they had others to share with. I wonder if each of them would have preffered not to share!
Absolutely wonderful story and music. How lucky you are Vanessa!
Dear Fanci and Adam,
You make a great team!! I cant say enough how moved I am. Your parents and sister must be blown away!!
Keep it coming!
What a talented family. Love all of the imagery.
I loved your story. My girls are 8 and 11 years older than their little 7 year old brother and you can imagine the kisses flying in our house! He squirms and says EW! but I know he adores them just the same.
Lovely post! And with fungi no less! I have my fungi photos ready to post, not sure when but they are going to be featured! They are! Thanks to you, I will have a fungi post all my own!
This is so Beautiful, Thank You for sharing it with us, I feel so very privilaged and fortunate that you have. And it was just what I needed today to restore my faith in humanity.
Sandra Evertson
What a story! A tale of Two Sisters! ! A brother! Music and craziness! Yay! ..Where is the FOOD part??!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAQsda-45vA
What beautiful music. Does he have a CD? I really loved that song. How lucky you are to have a brother. I had one once but he died when I was 19 and he was 17 in a car accident. I often wonder what he would be like today at 55 and how my life may have been different had he lived. Or different for him if he had to go to Vietnam. Either way God was in control and took him for a reason. Probably has been my guardian angel all along and I didn’t even realize it until tonight. Lucky you!
such a wonderful, warm post Miss V!!! Happy Birthday to your little bro…Adam!!
i almost had a baby brother or sister too but sadly it was not meant to be…
hey I miss your sister! send her my love…
Wow…that is so beautiful! I can not believe how much creativity runs through your family! I also can’t believe you were so mean to your sister. The gypsies…I’ll bet she didn’t get much sleep as a child! Bad Vanessa…bad, bad, bad! 😉
Now come over to my house and make meatloaf for me to atone for your sins…I’ve licked the pan clean and I still want more! Oh yeah, to anyone reading this comment, Miss Vanessa has the MOST yummy meatloaf recipe in all the land!
Wow. I love the song, beautiful. What a talented young man, Like his sis. And take it from me, the youngest of 2 but 7 years apart, we never forget! But that is ok, it just gives us some really good stuff to hold over your heads. (I say that because my sister dropped me on mine when I was about 18months. lol so it is all her fault I am this way!)
Love Erin~
Wow, what a story! Glad he is still here with you sharing your artistic side. It’s always nice to have someone to understand and it’s even better when blood ties are involved. I know..I’m the same with my sister.
so lovely – and the wonders abounding here miss fancy – you delight and amaze…
xox – eb.
it is soooo lovely…what a terrific brother you have, and very talented.
ok that was simply delightful. does talent run in the family or what! i know he composed it but is he also playing the instruments?
lol….you meanie weenie! your poor lil’ sis. just think it makes for such lovely, creative material to reflect on and colour in.
again, hats off to your brother. it was dreamy.
xo
Mum??? What are YOU doing here? LOL!!!
Anyhoo, Adams music is wonderful. Mum and I were talking about it and we agreed that it sounds like you could animate your girls with that music and yes, drum roll please….it could be the score in a Timmy film! (Burton, as if you needed clarification.)
Well done Valencia’s!!!
xo
Gillian
Absolutely wonderful – your words and Adam’s music. Dear Vanessa, thanks for sharing 🙂
Dear Vanessa, Such a wonderful story!!! I’m all tear-eyed by this… Must be so great to have such a strong bond with someone! Well, I have that as well with my family, but I think it’s great you have made a whole post about it!!! It’s really an amazing story and you writing is so beautiful and interesting. It’s great that someone can complete you artisticly, and he is so young and yet so talented!!!
Well thank you for this and hope you have a nice week! xxxx xxxx
you know how to evoke!
im pretty moved.
this is beautiful xxx
So wonderful warm story!I have one sister,just one year younger than me and we quarreled a lot as little girls..but in age of 15 we got closer and today we are friends really..but now we always respect differences..