There’s a lady here in town whom I had never met but we became friends on Facebook several years ago. There was a wildfire near here and this lady and her husband run a little newsgroup. She had posted about the status of the fire and I wrote her back and told her we live near where the fire was burning and if she heard any more, would she please let me know.
She’s an artist and paints beautiful pictures and murals. She’s done several wall murals around here and they are just gorgeous. Happy, whimsical, bright. I kept wondering if she ever painted for individuals but figured it would be beyond my budget. A few nights ago, she posted on Facebook that she would like to do some portraits if anyone wanted her to do it. I immediately wrote her. Her prices were very affordable.
I first sent her a picture of Addie to get her to do a 16 x 20 from that picture. Then I thought of another one I liked even better, knowing the artist’s whimsical nature so I sent her that picture and told her to “pick one and surprise me”. She said she loved them both so I said . . heck, do them both. I’ll give Nicole one and I’ll keep one.
But what I really wanted her to paint was one of my favorite scenes from our place here.
I have a picture of the back of the house with four quilts hanging on the clothes line and I thought about using that picture but then I thought . . the garden is what makes me happy. I can see a painting of this picture hanging in our home when we’re old and have long been gone from Texas.
I was telling Vince last night . . when we’re old, we’ll look at this picture and remember what a great life we had here and how hard we worked and how much we enjoyed it. Vince said “And, how much we regret having left!”
That said a lot. That statement left me in tears. I’ve said all along that I don’t want to leave here until I can leave without regrets. I told Vince .. I can see us staying here forever and he said . . you may be right.
Linda in NE says
I don’t want to be telling you what to do so all I can say is that you have put so much work & love into that place that you had better be very sure you won’t regret it before you leave it. You might be happy closer to Addie, but will Vince? And if he isn’t happy will you be? Besides, Addie is growing up and before long she will be so busy with her own activities and friends that she won’t have nearly as much time for Granny. Sad but true. I experienced it with the older three grandkids and now it’s getting closer with the younger two. It can be hard being a Granny.
Judy Laquidara says
I know what you’re saying. I figure by the time Addie outgrows Granny, we’ll be needing to be closer to them anyway but it isn’t going to happen any time soon.
vivoaks says
I understand your feelings. I don’t like the house I live in (50-year old trailer with a room attached) but I will probably never leave unless hubby goes first. There’s no money for anyplace else, and we’re close to 2 of our 3 children. The two we’re closest to have the grandkids – the 3rd isn’t married and only has a dog. hehehe As much as I think of wanting to move to someplace like North Carolina (where parents & a sister & family live) or someplace we’ve visited, I don’t want to move away from where I am now. In 20 minutes I can visit my 3-year-old grandson, who just told me yesterday, “It’s so much fun when you’re here, Grandma!” Why would I ever want to leave that???
Nelle Coursey says
I do hope you will stay here! I don’t get to see you as much as I once did, but just knowing you are close is good! If I have a question I can ask or if I have something I think you could teach me by showing me, I know where you live but I would call first!
dezertsuz says
You do have a good place there. Sometimes I concentrate so hard on what I wish, that I forget to appreciate where I am. I was thinking of that earlier today. I am also not in a bad place.