I temporarily
LOST MY APPETITE
Food and art consumes a lot of my time. I spend a portion of most of my days talking to you via ArtAndArtDeadlines.com about the food that I love and trying to inspire you to create art that YOU love. I haven’t written a post since December 22nd. I didn’t take a holiday hiatus; my Dad died.
On December 20th, my Dad was in a devastating car accident. I didn’t find out until 2 days later. On December 27th, I had to remove my father from life support. He died 15 minutes later. I buried him on January 3rd.
Many of you heard of my family tragedy via the grapevine, and I appreciate all of the love and support I have received. I am digging my way out of a mountain of paperwork and morbidity, and well… a serious funk.
As I began cleaning out
my father’s house,
it all came back to
food and art…
Food: Did you know that funeral homes offer catering? Ewwww. I know; that’s been everyone’s response. It is a Southern tradition to have neighbors and friends deliver casseroles to the family after someone dies, but catering IN the funeral home? No thanks. I turned down that option.
Art: I found 36 pairs of glasses in my Dad’s house. Diabetes had nearly robbed him of his eyesight. I don’t know if they were all different prescriptions or if he just kept buying new a new pair each time he couldn’t remember where he put the last ones down. I found 6 more in his crumpled car. I keep imagining a resin cube with glasses suspended inside and the words “was blind, but now I see” etched in the side. Dad would have been amused.
So, I have written all of this to let you know that I have not forgotten you. I am officially returning to posting on Tuesday. Back to food and art… it makes my world go round. Thanks again for your kindness and love.
R.L.Gibson – Bless you and your Father. He can see clearly now in heaven.
“Pennies from Heaven” – Heard of it? When my Mom passed, lost things kept on showing up, including on the very night she passed away -Astonishingly, an old coin rolled into my palm, after opening one of her letters. I had been looking for that coin for years! I then found a blood red, undamaged heart shape leaf, right by my foot, when I was pumping gas. Mind you – it WAS NOT Fall, and many cars had run over that spot to get gas. I could go on and on, but if you are open to a “Pennies from Heaven ” experience, it will happen! I experienced “lost” being “found,” over and over again.
R.L. –
I know you don’t know me- but I’ve followed your blog for a long while now so in a way I’ve come to know you. I went through something similar at the same time of year. I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you-
S
Rachel,
Although my father left earth in a summer time years back a dear friend and fellow artist( who seemed my father incarnate) passed recently from an accident. It brought back floods of memories and emotion. The holiday time often involves loss of family members. . . somehow, I think it’s so they’ll still be with us during these times. Thinking of you. . . and sending wishes for the strength you will need to carry on. My favorite: grieving is the price we pay for getting to stay… It’s worth it! You have a great site!
i am so sorry, Rachel, for your loss. i am sending you healing vibes, and also hoping that you find comfort in wonderful, shared memories. your post about this was beautiful. i especially loved this part: “I keep imagining a resin cube with glasses suspended inside and the words “was blind, but now I see” etched in the side. Dad would have been amused.” i can see that so clearly in my mind’s eye…
take care of you,
db
Rachel,
The things that they collected or saved or stashed.
My Mother had a an enormous collection of elegant gloves (long, short, kid, cotten, silk) from a life that my Father couldn’t identify. It was years later that we learned that the gloves belonged to my Grandmother, and that my Mother’s cousin had the other half of the collection. Mom also had life-time collection of plastic bags that had vegetables from the grocery. Never believe the people who tell you that plastic doesn’t deteriorate. When we found that bin we almost had to call the Hazardous Waste Removal Team…My Dad, as it turn out, had a relationship with an entire other family which we discovered when cleaning out his house. He was devoted to the Tape Family — in multiple widths — Scotch tape, blue tape, masking tape, cellophane tape, duct tape, paper tape, plastic mailing tape and more. I am my Father’s daughter. I, too, have a stash of tape.
You have my condolences and an endless supply of stories about your Dad.
Susan Gainen