One came home.

[Jeff]

In a past life, before the Forestry Forum, but part of the path that led to the Forum's creation, I used to paint.

One of them came home today.

I did it for the wife of a co worker. She was dieing of cancer. I had a one man gallery show in Midland and they could not attend because she was having a bad day.

That night I went home and painted this. It took about 2 weeks to touch dry. Cathy was no longer able to get out much other than dr appointments. Bill scheduled  a time for us to bring over the paintings I had at the show to give her her own art  viewing. When I went to her home to give it to her, We showed her the painting last I intended giving her. She instantly looked at Bill, Bill looked at the painting, and you could see he knew what she saw.

Ive never been to this place I painted. This place only existed for me that night on that canvas. Cathy then says to me, " This is my favorite spot in the world, this is in Grand Marais in the U.P. This is where my ashes will be spread." This was (edited to) year 2000.

Bill and I worked together for 20 years. We were co workers, but just casual friends.  I got a call last month that Bill had died. Perhaps there will be a memorial gathering or more likely a big beer party when this crap is over.

Today I was raking at the far end of my property and a big truck slowed and stopped I recognized the pretty young gal getting out because she grew up next door and was a friend to my kids and Bill Harcourt's granddaughter Hollie. As soon as she got out and I saw the back of a painting canvas I said "I know what that is" and dropped my rake.

The plan is for Bill's ashes to be spread with Cathy's in the place in the painting which is now titled "Cathy's place."

There was no thought of social distancing. I thought about that later, but the hug and Thank you for what the painting meant to her grand parents. Virus be damned.


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[Dan_Shade]

That's a nice story, thanks for sharing with us. 

[Magicman]

Wow, what a heart warming, sad, and happy story.  Yes, sometimes things should be where they belong. 

[WV Sawmiller]

   Thanks for sharing. Sorry about the loss of your friend. Great work on the painting.

    My SIL is very introverted but is a very good painter IMHO (I can't even draw a decent stick figure) and we were down there a couple years ago with our youngest local gd who was 5-6 y/o at the time and my daughter gave her a piece of typing paper and some colored sharpies and she drew a picture of them together. My SIL took it and never said a word and just went his way then about 30 minutes later he brought it back after framing it and hung it on the wall between several of his bird and landscape paintings and walked away without ever saying a word. When my gd saw it hanging prominently between his work she was about as happy as a little girl could be. No gift they could have given her would have meant as much as him hanging her "Painting" up there with his work.

[woodybutcher]

Even a grown man 😭 needs a good cry every now and then. Been one of those days. Heard a song today on the radio. Roses for Mama. Tomorrow would be my mom and dads 58th anniversary, and it will be what she used to call her favorite one, cuz it fell on mother's day. She has been gone for 6 years now. Sorry, did not mean to steal the subject. Thanks for listening.

[Old Greenhorn]

Well, you can add me to the list of big dumb guys with tears streaming down my cheeks as I read this. Lovely story, The blessing you freely gave those years ago have been returned to you. Pretty painting, nice work. 
 You are blessed, thanks for sharing that.

[thecfarm]

You're Da Man!!!

[Nebraska]

I never imagined how much talent is contained within this forum when I started reading  and learning things. I am just happy to have a seat to see it.    Amazing story, I wonder what  was guiding your hand that night when you created it. I have a pretty good idea. 

[Chuck White]

Beautiful story Jeff, sad but beautiful!

Very nice painting!

Brings a tear!