I must apologize to the memory of my Great Aunt Emma, for this horrible photo of her painting. It’s a water-colour, framed behind glass, hanging in an awkward niche in my parents’ small space. To get the shot at all, I had to jam myself between the…

The Nut House. Booby Hatch, Funny Farm, Loony Bin. Horrible, terrible names, I know. Back then, though, they were horrible, terrible places to be “institutionalized” - places where, if you were shut up into them, whether by your family, or by a mag…

Les Says: Yes, it does, Hairy. I think I may have finally found the magic formula that turns that around. You are one of the more important ingredients to the recipe.

Wow! I think they must have pumped Happy Gas into the air over Sault Ste. Marie today! LOL!

Les Says: The only “facts” we know are the ones in the post, but Cardiogirl’s comment has grown an entire novel based on Emma’s little known one. I will be forever grateful.

It won’t be on the blog, but when it’s finished, I intend to harangue publishers until I can proudly announce the date you can start haunting your local bookstore for it.

At first I thought you meant that was Aunt Emma’s painting as in, she purchased it and it hung in her house. Then I realized SHE is the artist who painted that picture. WOW.

So sad that she wasn’t able to live at home with her family.

I do think today Emma might just be a liberated chick who has a bit of a temper. I.e., a misunderstood artist who lives in society just fine.

Thanks for the glimpse into your world.

Les Says: Welcome to Where the Walls are Soft, Cardiogirl - it’s nice to see you here. Thanks, too, for giving me a new angle to look at, as far as Emma’s story goes.

Hope you visit more often (you could be my new Muse!).

Such a shame, but you have offered a worthy tribute here.

Les Says: Thank you, Mushy - that’s what I was hoping to do with this post. I like to think that Emma somehow knows that.

Obviously very talented genes in your clan!

Les Says: I wonder what she would think of the Internet… Would she be suspicious like Ruby, do you think, and refuse to touch a computer?