"I AM: Proud"--Artist Elaine Soltis Grabs Memories of Joy and Wonder

Ed.: As part of Studio B Art Gallery's "I AM: Proud" project, local writers and artists were encouraged to respond to the theme.

by Elaine Soltis*

I Wonder 

I wonder.

I wonder who?

Who came up with that?

The red, yellow, and blue on the pure white Wonder Bread wrapper... like dots of happiness... like a celebration. Who doesn’t want to be part of that? The child in all, wants to be invited to join!

A balloon, bubble, circle, or dot, with an invisible string, like a runway model sashaying in every gust of wind, it is just perfect.

Round and round, tumbling, gliding, and sailing among the clouds, it really makes you smile. Now that is what I think is the best part... a sharing of fun!

Yes, someone really knew what they were doing! Do you remember that commercial with Skippy Peanut Butter? The slow, slow roll of creamy deliciousness across the slice of white bread, had you wondering if the pantry had both Skippy

and Wonder Bread. No lumps or bumps, just as smooth as icing a cake, slipping on ice, or (oh, my gosh), pulling on new socks, you found yourself drooling.

I wonder if anyone knows my secret?

I still buy Skippy.

I don’t buy Wonder Bread. Not because I wasn’t invited to the party, but because it is found on the lowest shelf in the grocery. I guess the thinking is Wonder can be found. wherever you happen to look, from top to bottom. Still, although I seldom hesitate, trying to get my shopping done as fast as I can... I do pause when I see the balloons, bubbles, circles, or dots, of red, yellow, and blue. I think, in my hurry, that getting lost in the clouds, is not on my list, this day. After all, reality happens. Bubbles burst. Circles make you dizzy. Dots are what you see when you are told that you have a floater passing by, and balloons fly above your grasp.

Where I am and where the destination of that party may be, it is all part of this story. I wonder if the brand advertiser would ever dream that this is forever in my TV land recall... I wonder. That here I am writing of an impression that has stayed for most of my lifetime. There are worse things than that...I wonder.

I wonder, as I hurry to my car, and then return my empty cart, if anyone saw me enter the grocery, once more?

I wonder if anyone noticed that I rushed back to grab the Wonder Bread on the lowest shelf? Just for old times sake, I reach down to grab a good memory.

I wonder if the dots connecting past, present, and future, are part of the biggest circle of all... a wonder, I wonder...

Now I wonder why I, as I take a bite out of my Wonder Bread and Skippy Peanut Butter deliciousness that I wondered at all!

(2/2024)

* Elaine Soltis is a Contemporary Mixed Media Artist with a studio at the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, an instructor with online videos, 25-year member of Actors' Equity, and an Interviewing host for "Lively Arts at the GoggleWorks," for BCTV, Reading, PA.

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