June Pascal: Breakdancing

June Pascal: Breakdancing:                                                            "   Breakdancing  " an oil painting by June Pascal, 24" x 36"

My Christmas Story

My Christmas Story

I look forward to Thanksgiving not for the love of turkey but because I know that the day after, my favorite people are coming down from Quebec. For a whole month, they stay with me while they sell Christmas trees on Broadway. I live around the corner where they have their tree stand. Mario, the alpha man of the group who I have known the longest and best always brings a different team with him, mostly women, friends or lovers but always interesting women who eventually become my friends as well.

We share the whole Christmas season together. For a whole month they manned the trees 24/7 while I kept house, made soup and treats and did my art.  Outside on Broadway, it was all about the commerce and trappings of Christmas. Inside my home, we were all living Christmas, giving, receiving love and joy from each other every time we saw each other. We have the best conversations and laughter early morning for breakfast. When they came home staggering from a wintry 14 -hour watch, there was always time to share the day over wine, tea or soup if not a hot meal or a bath.

Well, this year it was different. He brought two men with him. One was Patrick, an avowed chocoholic who had the sweetest, Puckish humor to prove it. How I enjoyed listening to his travel tales when I first met him last year so it was a joyous reunion of bear hugs and kisses. And the other was Simon. Literally, I opened the door and there he was. A beauty, with long black hair, deep dreamy eyes, aquiline nose, a great big smile that flashed a fine pair of fangs and he spoke French.

As always in my life, it was love at first sight Mind you, a decade has passed since this last happened to me. This last decade, I opted to love myself and my art alone. That has always made me happy but not giddy- happy as I am about to find out the difference.

In my mind, I point to my bare neck, telling him, “Here, x marks the spot”. But in words, I offer tea sweetened with maple syrup from Mario’s Sugar Shack. Nevertheless, I later asked him, “Are you sure you are not a vampire?”

He answers with a beatific smile,” I am a vampire,” he assures me.

“But you look like an angel, so now you will be my vampire angel.” I exclaimed.

Over breakfast, I ask him a million questions. “How does it feel when your boat capsizes over spring waters? “  He is a river guide during summer, a ski-patrol in winter, a cliff-hanger,  a slack-liner. A true nature-boy, he has the entire country as a playground.

“Instant head freeze,” he quickly answers.

“What sport do you like playing best? “I pursue.