This parenting journey is overflowing with thrills, spills, and surprises.  Our monkeys offer regular inspiration to push boundaries, question convictions, and see the world differently.  This sort of explains how one very un-artistic chick just might find herself behind a table at the local arts market.

My artistic skills peaked in the 3rd grade.  They have steadily declined in the ensuing years.  Back in the glory day (yes, singular), my U.S. postal stamp design was a finalist for NH students. 

This was big time, including a special ceremony at the federal building, but more importantly, an opportunity to miss school.  Such a heady experience might cause the average student to experience a sense of pride and accomplishment.  Not me.  Nope, I ordered up guilt with a side of embarrassment for the ceremony.  Sat there gazing at the other finalists, at the level of detail and investment present in their work, and thought if they only knew. 

These students had clearly spent hours, if not days, carefully designing elaborate stamp renderings.  I took approximately the last 7 1/2 minutes of our weekly art class to whip up my concoction.  Had no idea what to create for the assignment, so commenced coloring at random with bright Crayola markers.  The result was a mass of connected color splotches for which I wholly expected a reprimand from our art teacher.  Perhaps an earlier introduction to Jackson Pollock would have left me feeling a bit brighter.

Exhaled a great big sigh of relief when another finalist’s postal stamp design was selected the winner.  And thus ended my one-day artistic career.  Turns out my crafty skills weren’t hiding in the domestic arts either.  FYI – attempts to avoid sewing by cutting one’s entire apron project from an enormous piece of cloth are frowned upon in home ec.

Here’s the wild thing: despite my utter lack of artistic confidence, our daughter emerged from the womb and promptly commenced her career as a most prolific artist.  Though not looking to pursue the arts professionally (most recently she has determined to become an MD as word is they make a lot of money, and she needs the funds to support her 2-level animal shelter), she creates passionately, copiously, and unexpectedly, on a daily basis.

Not only does she create passionately, she also cares deeply.  Hence her scheme to sell works at the arts market, and donate proceeds to support Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.  

So now, 23 years post-postage-stamp-debacle, the opportunity exists to get my art on vicariously.  To support our daughter’s quest, to contemplate saleable art, to learn about supplies and techniques.  To find inspiration, yet again, in this whirlwind we created.            

Utterly Random Recent Occasions for Gratitude:

  • Flatulence can now be convincingly blamed on the dog.
  • Despite feeding 4 little monkeys microwaved s’mores as a bedtime snack (hello?  what was I thinking?), the last one’s eyes fluttered shut before the clock struck 10 pm.
  • Excited puppy tails.
  • The opportunity to throw off our jackets at the local playground, with no chilly repercussions.
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