Monday, May 14, 2012

Moth-er

Here is the painting completed after the burning (see previous post).


Image

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Feliz Dia de la Madre



This year, I spent a bit of time in mourning for my mother. Not mourning for her death, but mourning for all the time that I am losing for not living in the same country as her. I created an painting of her, and burned parts of it away to make her parallel to the verse that talks about not putting your treasures on earth where moth destroys. Burning it was surprisingly hard to do, I think I created my first therapeutic artwork.

I was talking to someone recently whose mom had died when he was still a boy. He told me that parts of his mom were still a part of who he is and that though her death does impact his every day life, that the part of who she is remains in part of his character.

And I see this too in me as do my friends who have met her. There are parts of who I am that have sprouted from who she is. Like my mom, I now need my daily nap as I listen to some audio thing, I say silly things that make students kindly question me, I am an intense traveler, I like to lighten up situations, I love to be hospitable to anyone willing to come around.

I hope that I will continue to find traces of her in me, that I will be my own woman like she is, resilient to others, that I will inherit the practical wisdom she has has so often used to counsel her children. That, like her, I will be willing to go through 18 years of being uncool so that eventually those who I have influenced (children spiritual or physical) will finally appreciate me for who I am and what I have done in their lives. Happy Mothers Day Mom! Sorry for burning your effigy... may it flatter you that you have such an impact on my mind that it needed to be done.

pick up line of the week

"lets hang out together and celebrate your future mothers day"