The sky is falling

As a kid, I loved the phrase “raining cats and dogs.”

To me, an animal lover, nothing could be better.

I visualized hundreds of cats and dogs dropping into my backyard - I always pictured a soft landing - and they would all be my loyal and loving pets.

To this day, the joy of that phrase is forever linked to dark wet days.

I love the rain.

Is it any wonder I also love the phrase “the sky is falling”?

This time, it’s linked to wonderfully laughable illustrations in the children’s book where I first read about Chicken Little. At those moments in life where it all seems overwhelming, when the sky is falling on me, I have to smile at the ridiculousness of it all.

Have I turned into the squawking chicken, beak agape, short wings flapping at the world?

Now I have an even better image in my mind, thanks to the artwork of Julie Heffernan, now at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.

In her interpretation, the sky rains rocks and boulders down upon a beautiful defenseless woman. All looks lost for her except for the fact that some of those rocks are precious jewels.

I stood in front of the painting for awhile thinking about this. Being hit by a falling ruby is still going to hurt. Maybe that woman should stop standing there and seek cover. But I don’t think that’s the point the artist is trying to make.

There’s lemonade in those falling lemons. Silver linings. I get it. Heffernan adds another note in this painting that I enjoy. There’s a falling Ganesh, the Hindu god of wisdom and renewal. The elephant god has always been a favorite of mine, and seeing him here promising wisdom and renewal in those falling-sky days is reassuring.

Ah, art. We get to interpret it in our own way. Rocks and elephants, cats and dogs. It’s all good.