Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Bill Millerd & Pancho

Some who read or look at the pictures I post in this blog may have noticed the frequency of appearance of a papier-mâché skeleton. We in the family affectionately call him Pancho and he relaxes in an antique Windsor chair in our dining room. Pancho never complains of the food we serve at the table.

Pancho was given to me by my friend, architect and teacher  Abraham Rogatnick a year before he died on August 28, 2009. He had purchased the skeleton in Mexico sometime in the 60s. Rogatnick had attached a hangman’s noose to the skeleton’s neck and on every Halloween he would perch him outside his 11 Avenue home (across from poet George Bowering).

Rogatnick gave me the skeleton with the following words, “I am going to die soon so you might as well have him as you will appreciate him.”

During an open garden in 2010 I hung Pancho under our Cercis canadensis in the back garden. People came to look at our lovely early summer garden. The roses were in bloom. One woman who came with her children was aghast at the site of the hanging Pancho and complained to us. I attempted to explain that after having lived many years Rosemary and I saw death in a different light but to no avail.

Since 2008 Pancho has never contributed to our dinner conversation. He is impervious to everything and I am almost sure he will outlive me. Lauren, below has a deep afection for Rosemary's cat, Casi-Casi and our Pancho.

Lauren & Pancho

Today,  is Halloween, Bill Millerd, the artistic director of the Arts Club Theatre Company came to pose for my  red shawl series. When he was about to go I showed him Pancho. Millerd and Rogatnick had been friends for many years. I asked Millerd to pose with Pancho. He did this. Millerd, who has an effusive smile, did follow my directions to be serious. So here is Millerd wishing us all a Happy Halloween even if there is a touch of melancholy as we thought about our mutual old friend, Abraham Rogatnick.