The Ash Creek Papers

My Mother no longer mentioned him. His absence had become a routine in our lives. And as Springs turned to Summers, and then early Falls brought on harsh Winters… and one year melted to the next, his memory faded to a mirage. Did my Father really exist? Ever?

My older Sister had memories that perhaps cut deeper into her mind. But there came the time that even she kept these memories locked away for safekeeping and not to be shared… at least with me. It was our unwritten code not to bring him up.

She retreated to her piano. I, to my drawing.

*****

For our younger Sister it was harder to tell. She kept to practicing her letters. She was quite young when he was taken from us. Maybe she was the lucky one… lucky for not knowing him as well. Not to know his strength. Not to remember the depth of his voice. Not to hear his words and ideas. Not to understand the passion he possessed.

These were qualities that I could but barely taste at a young age; but would eventually develop a fuller appreciation as I added years to my life.

My Mother seemed to drift between the present and someplace else. The vacancy she felt remained largely hidden from view, although I suspect that Anna our housekeeper knew, and maybe Sasha, the fieldman, too.

It was said that few ever returned; but when Anna opened the door to the parlor that afternoon, and he walked in… I knew that my Father had returned… even if my little Sister was afraid.

In 1884 Ilya Repin finished his painting The Unexpected Return.

I saw that canvas in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow in 1969 and again in 1970. I absolutely adored the canvas. I loved the way the painting told a story… Repin captured the present; but it was built on the past… and it would lead to a future. Rather than words, he used a brush to weave his tale. A story of an exile returned home.

Repin was also a renown painter of portraits… his subjects read like a who’s who list of Russian Society. But it was in “story telling” that he excelled… paintings done in grand scale… each person a careful study in expression.

Of the technical merits of the painting I am not qualified to render an authoritative opinion.

I do like his use of light and shadow. And from the sensual perspective, there is something about the young girl’s attitude that sets the spirit of the painting. She is young… look how her feet dangle, how they are crossed in a youthful way… how she is leaned into the table… apprehensive of who has just entered the room. Who is this?

Look how she is in highlight, her Brother in shadow… even the Father is mostly shadow. This is her experience. She will be the one to put the story of her Father’s Siberian exile to words one day.

Zack and I had a chat around the water cooler the other day and he mentioned that the Winter Olympics were completely uninteresting save for hockey, speed skating and bobsled. I agreed in general with his assessment… except I enjoy women’s figure skating and I don’t care much for bobsled.

By the by, I hate men’s figure skating… or any sport, for that matter, where a man wears more face make-up than Hermann Goering.

Our conversation turned to what could be done to improve the Winter Olympics. Zack thought that Kodiak Bear Sledding would be a good event. Good idea. I countered that Bull Moose Riding would be fun to watch… particularly if the riders were shmeared with the scent of a female moose in estrus. Or maybe traditional field events could be adapted… like the Shot Put… only on skates.

Both of us felt that aside from hockey, true team sports were also lacking. Zack went to the chalk board and using a skating rink as a model sketched out the following event. Two competing teams (specific number of participants yet to be determined), each team member is given a shield and a fishing net… teams line up on opposite sides of the rink… then the entire ice surface is raised on hydraulic lifts, and then spun around to 25Gs, after five minutes the rink is lowered and 100 penguins of various sizes (and including Pro Bowl Linemen dressed in penguin costumes) are placed at center ice and the teams then compete to capture as many penguins as possible.

Zack pointed out that the players would have to show tremendous athletic skill to fight thru the dizziness, the disorientation and vomiting, to bag their quarry.

Uh, huh… I would watch that. Particularly if the players had to wear sandals and suits of chain mail.

I am also thinking that perhaps we can “tweak” existing events and really upgrade the quality of the Olympics. Take the Biathlon, for example. This is an event that combines two very distinct skills: cross country skiing and shooting a rifle.

Competitors have to traverse a trail on skis with a rifle slung over their shoulder… and periodically they draw to a stop, unsling their rifles and attempt to hit targets down range. In my opinion… this event almost makes it.

But why not replace dumb targets with live game. Maybe bull moose… or better yet, the competitors first would have to be shmeared with the scent of female moose in estrus. Now wouldn’t that be exciting?

Even better… turn this into a true team event… and let the competitors hunt each other. Just think of some of the natural rivalries! Just like the Yankees against the Red Sox! But it would be the Koreans against the Japanese, or the Finns against the Russians! Or even better, this is perfect: the Russians against the Germans! They hate each other! Oh, this is even better! The Germans against the French! Or wait, we could take on the French, those pompous ingrates! No! No! We’ll take on the Cubans! How great is this? They might not have a cross country ski team… who cares? We can put them out there with snow shoes and cigars! And when we beat the shit out of them we can keep the cigars and then hold their National Baseball Team hostage!

Or there can be advanced competition… like the “Super ‘G'”… not only country against country; but also against Bull Moose!

Now this is what the Olympics are all about! And no saccharine TV coverage from NBC! The event will be covered live by CNN (even if it’s 3:00AM!).

You know what? The Winter Olympics are looking better and better! Let the Games begin!