“Whoever said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend….never owned a dog”
I believed in Daisy, and I’m pretty sure she believed in me!
You often hear individuals describe themselves as a dog person or cat person. I’ve always considered myself a dog person with a capital D! I grew up with collies. The “dog love” of my life was a golden retriever named Daisy. She started out as my kids “best friend” but became mine when they grew up and left home. Daisy turned gray with me and limped a bit, having sore hips just like me. When I drew or painted she sat at my feet moving closer and closer. This was very comforting except for the following moment. Stop reading if you’re squeamish! I had just sharpened 25 drawing pencils and placed them graphite point up in my pencil jar. The bathroom was calling my name. I took one step away from the drafting table. As I put my foot down I nearly fell because it landed on the dog. I heard a loud yelp. To avoid hurting Daisy I dropped my hand toward the drafting table for support, and it landed on guess what? Yes indeed all 25 pencil points! Who said art was painless?! It took an hour or so to pull the graphite points out of my hand. Daisy was loaded with empathy. She acted a bit sheepish and concerned.
Abby loves to stare out the window
Presently I’m a cat owner (or is she the real owner?). Our three year-old adoptee Abby can probably avoid getting stepped on because cats are quick and limber. Thanks to my husband, children, and a mostly friendly Abby, I have recently come to appreciate the finer attributes of cats. I still miss the empathic love I felt with Daisy by my side, something I’ve never quite felt from the often aloof Abby. Cat, dog, or whatever furry friend you may have, there is nothing quite like the love of a pet who can’t talk back.
I’ve included the drawing I did after his death. As usual art helped me to cope. The drawing was done from a snapshot taken at his surprise 82nd birthday party. Normally there would have been lots of photos from my own camera. Unfortunately I landed in the hospital the night before. When I finally arrived at the party unshowered, exhausted, and bedraggled, he looked up at me with pure joy. As always, even at age 82 and wheelchair-bound, his strength of spirit lifted me up.
I’m so glad that I agreed to the photo because it captured how I felt toward a dad who was/is my hero.
It’s been a bit more than a month since I turned 59. As I consider my own transitions I’m also struck by those of my grandchildren. Sam (5 years 9 months) is in his last week of Kindergarten. We recently attended a show where he performed a Spanish dance with the entire class of Maxwell Elementary. The children were in costume and paired up. Sam looked so grown up! It seems like just seconds since his birth made me a Grandma. He and his 2 1/2 year old brother Gabriel have filled my heart. They are more incredible than I could have imagined, and I have quite an imagination!
It’s been almost twenty years since my mother-in-law died and yet May, her month, still fills me with memories. Her birthday was May 9 which seemed so appropriate with its proximity to Mother’s day. She was the consummate mother. She always remembered the little things that really are the big things. Birthday cards were never late!! Her journals were filled with positives; not one critical word. She saw only the best in people.
She was so excited to see Nick that she planted a big, very visible lipstick kiss on his cheek! It touched my heart so, I knew this was something I had to draw. I wanted to make it special so I drew a heart of flowers around the portrait. Prior to that time I had not been an avid flower painter but this event got me started down a new path. I hope you enjoy the drawing – to me it’s a golden oldy, loaded with sentiment!
At the ripe age of 50, after 27 years in Texas raising our kids, the move to Concord, MA was difficult. No more close friends nearby who knew the song in my heart…. No more cozy places where my children grew up. Wonderful places like Zilker Park, McKinney Falls, the city of Austin, the state capital building, San Antonio Riverwalk and Zoo, the list goes on and on…..
Artful Passages 