THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130288
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHERYL ADAMS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Ida Renee Burns has a bone to pick with Pat Boone.
Although he's probably better known for sporting white shoes than creating controversy, he caused Burns, a local artist, to raise more than just an eyebrow a few weeks ago. She picked up a pen and created what she says is history.
Sitting in her apartment in Virginia Beach, where she has lived with her mother for the past 23 years, Burns says she was watching the television news when Pat Boone announced that Sunday, July 23, was to be the first National Parents Day. Boone, who along with his wife was the nation's honorary parent for the holiday, also announced that doting children everywhere would have to wait until next year to get the cards in the mail - the card companies hadn't yet gotten wind of the holiday.
His remark left at least one honorary daughter disgruntled.
``My mother's been Mom and Dad to me since my dad died,'' Burns said, ``and she wasn't going to have to wait until next year to receive a card from me.''
Burns said she was even more shocked when Boone suggested that the holiday be celebrated by taking parents out to eat in lieu of sending them a card. A T-Bone is a poor substitute for tender words from the heart, Burns thought, so she decided to take matters into her own hands.
``It really got to me when he said we'd have to take our parents out to eat,'' she said. ``Everyone has parents. I would think this would be important to people. It was to me.''
Sensing that things were seeming pretty dysfunctional in the national family, Burns resisted Boone's advice and decided to call Hallmark.
``I asked them about the holiday and if they knew about it,'' she said, ``and they said, `Really? We haven't heard anything about it.' I really couldn't believe it. Parents deserve this holiday, and it just slid by everyone. This is the first year - it's the most important. The second of anything isn't as good as the first. So if they didn't make cards, then, I thought, being an artist. I'll make my own.''
The result is a creation that she claims is the first of its kind in history - the premiere National Parents Day card. Believing that an event like that is worthy of some attention, Burns convinced two local television stations to be on hand when she presented the card to her mother, Bea Schlosburg.
``I really felt special,'' Burns said, ``because when I had the card in mind, the only person I was thinking of was my mother. Before I knew it we had two television stations here and I was being wired up with a mike.''
Burns, who specializes in portraiture, said she wanted her card to simply say that her mom was special and that she had always been there for her and her sister, Marilyn. The card is reminiscent of the homemade notes made by children. The meaning of it is somewhere in between the glitter and the glue, not in what's written on it.
``It has more meaning if I do it myself,'' said Burns, who also designs clothing, writes and performs songs and says she is an inventor. ``It's from the heart, it's my own words. Original.''
She credits her family with giving her inspiration.
``I use my work as a way to make other people happy,'' she said. ``Anything that takes off is an added, extra pleasure, but my family always comes first.''
Schlosburg, who is 78, admits she had little to do with passing on any artistic talent to her daughter.
As for owning what her daughter says is the first-ever Parents Day card, she said, ``It's real great. . . to have a daughter like that. She's always been smart about things like that.''
The pair said they have enjoyed the attention Burns' creation has gotten them, even though it was unexpected. Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf has even issued a proclamation recognizing Burns.
``This is really special that people are acknowledging me,'' Burns said. ``I'm glad of that, but you have to mean it. If you don't, it doesn't come through. People know when something is sincere or not.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Ida Renee Burns, right, shows off the card she designed for the
first national Parents Day - July 23, 1995 - which caught the
national card-makers off guard. Burns' mother, Beatrice Schlosburg,
was the proud recepient of the inaugural card.
by CNB