The Blind Old Man

 

This is one of my favorite photos of Popcorn, and it was taken by Tim Viencowski in the Spare Room Gallery after our opening reception for the show, Sweet/Unsweet. We had all eaten too much good food and Tim, Michele, Popcorn and I plopped on the futon couch that used to be Sam's bed in what used to be Sam's room and we watched 4 episodes of Mad Men in a row. Popcorn is most happy when you are sitting, and then he will sit next to you -or even better- on your lap. He is 60 lbs., but he feels more like 40, so it's okay. He can't see and he can't hear, but he always knows where you are. He always makes me think of nice things to say.

the namesake

 Popcorn doesn't hear me when I come home anymore... I often find him sleeping on his peach blanket which lives on the black couch that Sam left here. I take off my coat and turn on the stove for tea. After a few minutes of nosing through the mail, I kill the whistle and I stand over the sleeping dog. It is alarming how long it takes for him to realize that I am there. His surprise is genuine, but forgiving. I sit down on a small corner of the couch to drink my tea. Popcorn stretches.