Wednesday, January 6, 2010

An Epiphany of Ruby Slippers

As today is the Feast of the Epiphany, it's the last official day for mentioning Christmas in my blog.

"Epiphany" can be defined as a manifestation. Wizard of Oz coincidences have been cropping up everywhere for me this past year. Finally, thanks to a dear friend who sent me a Christmas present in the mail, I had something physical to show for it ... well, besides some photos I took on August 25th, 2009 which happened to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz movie release. I'm still working on that batch of photos, and you've already seen "Over the Rainbow" and "Morning Pasture in Deep Emerald Fog," which are on display in Niagara Falls.

Before getting to the main action, the more memorable Wizard of Oz coincidences include:

1) Having a street person at Tower City look at my photos (which didn't include any Oz-themed ones at the time), stare straight at me, and sing "We're off to see the Wizard ... "

2) A few weeks later when I DID have Oz-themed photos, selling my first 4x6 matted print of "Over the Rainbow" at Tower City and then hearing the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as piped-in mall music an hour later.

3) Actually watching the pastor in a church do an impression of the Wicked Witch of the West!

So anyways. Back to the main action:

One day driving home from work in early December 2009, a Cleveland radio announcer on a classical station was holding one of those contests where they play a movie song and you're supposed to guess the movie it came from. An instrumental version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" came on and everyone was getting it wrong and guessing Bing Crosby. Finally, as I pulled into my apartment parking lot, the announcer told us that the correct answer was the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis" ... and then added that Judy Garland had starred in it. (Yes, the witch's Dorothy!)

Minutes later inside the apartment, I opened a package containing a set of the blank note cards shown above with the ruby slippers and yellow brick road!

The Cafe Press receipt read, "Wizard of Oz Greeting Cards, judy_garland."

Adventure awaits ...

8 comments:

Diane said...

Thank you so much for your comments on my art pieces. You asked if I had a title for my Sunflower one--no I don't really. I have trouble coming up with titles :) As far as the backgrounds and just getting it the way I want--I have trouble letting it be "ugly" for a while. I'm trying to learn to be patient with the process. The one thing about mixed media is that you can keep going and going until your happy with it, and in the long run it turns out better, because of the depth from all of the layers. I really appreciate your comments--thank you!

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed your Epiphany of Ruby Slippers....very interesting and love your blog...I followed you here from my baby sister's blog, Mary Freeman asplendidadventure...I'm so proud of her!!! Blessings to you in the New Year...

Jane said...

Very neat blog. I am a big fan of the Wizard of Oz - can never see it too many times!

Jane

Teresa Mallen said...

A pastor and the Wicked Witch of the West? This has to be leading somewhere...Just keep following the yellow bricks!

Janie said...

That's a great series of coincidences. I would love to have seen the pastor giving his version of the Wicked Witch of the West!

Mary said...

Don't you just love all those little kisses from God????

Here's my email address, shoot me one, and I will email you back when I have more information about where to send Denise something. In the meantime check out Marsha's blog, www.marshasmusings.www for more info.

Mary said...

well, really leaving my email address might help!! :)

maryefreeman@hotmail.com

oh, I see my sweet sister said Hey!!

CountryDreaming said...

Diane: Mixed media sounds like a lot of fun. You and another blogger named Katelen just may inspire me to experiment ... Watch out, world! :-)

Bevie: Glad to meet you! I look forward to getting to know you better. Happy New Year to you too!

Jane: You know you're not alone in wanting to see Wizard of Oz over and over when the movie's been out 70 years and still going strong to the point where it generates new storylines like "Wicked."

Teresa Mallen: and Janie: Yeah, I nearly jumped outta my seat when I saw the pastor go into such an unexpected impersonation! At least now I seem to have found the Yellow Brick Road. That's a start.

Mary: It's really encouraging when people affirm that God is behind these coincidences, because without seeing the big picture, the question is what does this all mean? Your encouragement means that the answer will make sense someday. Have sent you an e-mail.