This painting is of Sailboat Pond (Conservatory Water), in Central Park, New York, on an early spring afternoon.

Sailboat Pond is one of my favorite childhood places - so many memories; where my brother, sister, and I could launch our miniature boats to travel the pond - like world explorers on a quest - spending hours chasing them from one side of the pond to the other.

We were poor back then - just seven years since arriving in America - but nobody could tell the state of our family financial affairs at the park. We were dressed-down-millionaires for all anybody knew - and we were in paradise! 💖

My Red Sailboat... 
I always brought along my favorite Red sailboat to Sailboat Pond. It wasn't motorized, just a simple sailboat with a solid wood hull, mast with sails, and a metal keel. Once launched, I needed to chase it wherever the wind blew - running around the pond and cheering it along. Sometimes, it got stuck in the shallow waters near the pond shore. A crowd would lend a hand to get it loose with a tree branch or some other trick, and it was on its way again - Sailing Away - Yay! 😊

In early spring of 1962, Dad was almost 40 years old. He was out there with a perfect view, of Sailboat Pond. 💖