On December 3rd the Orange County Regional History Center celebrated the Holidays in Heritage Square (South Magnolia Avenue and East Central Boulevard). The event was complete with live music, visits with Santa Claus, crafts, milk and cookies; plus Mayor Teresa Jacobs turned on the holiday lights.
On the walk to the History Center, I bumped into my wife Terry walking around Lake Eola and was amazed to see that she had died all her hair a deep purple. She was on the phone with my sister Carol. She handed the phone to me and Carol told me that my distant cousin Cornelia Thorspecken and her daughter Nini would be visiting Orlando in the summer. I’d have to get the guest room ready for visitors.
At the History Center, the park was quite dark but the facade of the building was lit by bright color changing spot lights. As a sketch artist I get annoyed with these color changing lights having to choose a color palette that might change on a whim. All the new sculptures in town seem to use color changing lights like none of the artists could make a decision about which color would work best.
A children’s chorus sang off tune. Though lacking talent they were adorable which is what counts. When Teresa Jacobs flipped on the lights, long strands of Christmas lights arched up to the top floor creating the illusion of a Christmas Tree. With the lights on, everyone was invited inside to meet Santa. My sketch was done, so I packed it up for the day. The last time I tried to draw Santa I had been kicked out of the mall, so I wasn’t going to push my luck.
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