Monday, April 18, 2011

One of the things I miss


So what do you see here, a shark? A plane? Maybe it's a shark plane!

If you live in the world of Richard Scarry books, as Simon does, shark plane is the correct answer. And thank goodness he likes it, because I'm still learning how to draw just a shark, or just a plane.

Anyway, today is the one year anniversary of my brother's passing. Sounds strange doesn't it? I can't even easily type death, let alone say it aloud. And yet it happened.

As I was drawing this sad shark plane today, it hit me that one of the things I miss most about John was his God-given talent for sketching. He could use the golf pencil and giving envelopes found in the pew of our church, and sketch a perfect likeness of someone in the row ahead of us.

I can create graphics and computer illustrations with the best of them, but actual illustration (without hours of effort), that was always John's thing. And he's no longer here to share that with me, or to teach Simon. And that hurts more than anything.

Rest In Peace John. We miss you.

PS. I'm not posting this for sympathy OR to make my parents cry. Please Mom and Dad, don't cry. I just didn't want the day to pass without acknowledging what I'm thinking.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Helping Sweep

Simon helped Dad sweep the back deck. At first we did it together but then he insisted on doing it himself... imagine that.