For Captain Gary

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

A dear friend passed away tonight after being in ICU for the past week and diagnosed with ALS on Monday.  

We  called him Captain Gary.  His job,   (and he loved it) was to ferry his wife and her friends around the lake on his boat, Compensation.  Oh, what fun we had!  Feeding ducks, floating around, skiing, sunning, reading, and just being.  

Today, as he was moved to palliative care.  I was taking care of his dog.  We  waited for the latest news.  I  thought we were going to be able to bring Shiloh to him at the hospital but alas, it never happened.  It was, however,   a long, long day.  

And so,  to pass the time, I painted.  Because I could.  Because I loved it. Because, it kept me calm and focused.  But mostly, because, who knows about tomorrow?  

And, then, for one other very special  realization.  

When I was at the house, doing this or that, while he was hospitalized I realized he had kept the birthday card I had painted for him, over a year ago. Before my first art lesson.  It was not a museum piece.  

It sat on the end table beside the couch where he always  read.  He wasn't a huge communicator, and never said anything, but, it must have meant something special to him.    

Funny isn't it, how the small things you do for people, mean more than you know?   Its not about the art, or its perfection, not really.  Its the gesture of giving, of doing, what you can, when you can.  

So, dear Captain, the paintings I did today, were inspired by you.  Thank you.  
Bless you.  Rest well.  

You were loved by so many and we will all miss you so very, very much.