LESSONS LEARNED FROM AUNT MARY

Actually, the title might be Lessons BEING Learned from Aunt Mary.

We drove over to Springfield for my annual visit (Jacq gets there twice a year or more.). Aunt Manry was prepared. She had her latest paintings on display in the living room. Last year she won first prize for this painting -- Girl with Umbrella.

There were two more paintings that she has done since then. She has discovered a new medium -- watercolor that paints like her tried and true oil. This is a better medium for her now that she is reaching her 101st birthday. It isn't quite like oil. Very similar. She is still learning about it. She is wanting to do more experimenting with it but she has two commissions to be done before she can allow herself that extravagance of time.

One hundred and one and experimenting with a new medium. Now that's a lesson to learn -- we are NEVER too old for the new 'stuff' that is constantly appearing.

Mary said she was turning over a corner of her living room to her artwork done AFTER one hundred. She would take down the portrait she had done of my uncle and a couple of other wonderful paintings and put up this prize winner and two other paintings done this summer with the new medium. (Really sorry I didn't take pictures of them while we were there -- next time.)

Soon after our arrival Mary's granddaughter and husband arrived with pizza and salad for lunch. Mary had 'a bite' of salad but certainly enjoyed the pizza. We caught up on news. Laughed. And soon it was time to move to the kitchen for haircutting -- Mary is particular about convenience of maintenance and because her hair was getting in the way she had been at it with sewing scissors. I had the privilege of giving her a nice shingled haircut that would make for ease of maintenance, for a while anyway. She pulled some strands onto her forehead to create some wisps for what she feels is an expansive forehead. Lesson: always care about your appearance.

It was Saturday and the kitchen radio was broadcasting an opera. "I'm trying to learn to like opera," she informed me. Not "appreciate" but 'like." Another area of learning -- stretch from what is familiar and comfortable and challenge yourself. Amazing!

From the kitchen window we could see snow coming down in great whorls and so we decided that we must be on our way back to Indiana before we were caught. It was a bit of a sad parting. We were just past the getting comfortable stage and ready to share our important feelings and insights. Another year. Way too long.

Will there be another visit? God willing.