Be In Love With Yr Life

That title is thanks to Jack Kerouac, from a list of 30 points he noted to achieve creative success.

Good advice!

The entire list was pretty inspiring, from “the crazier the better” to “accept loss forever”.

I like this one best, though.

“Be in love with yr life.”

It’s simple. Profound. Easy to achieve.

In fact, I am quite successful at this particular rule.

I – yes, me, with list after list of un-kept resolutions, un-met goals, heart-ache and heart-break; me, with un-paid bills, disobedient dogs, an unfinished house and a broken-down car; me, who probably complains too much and indulges in self-pity far too often – am absolutely – wildly – in love with my life!

I have a lot to be thankful for, many things to be happy about…but that’s not really the point. If it were a tally sheet, with good and bad both noted, it would probably be a fairly even score. The older I get, the more losses there are.

Still, I’m thrilled to be here.

Every day, challenging or not, happy or not, here for the experience.

In love with my life!

Madeline

Madeline is my absolute, very favorite granddaughter!

Madeline is a good organizer. She likes to have a plan, and to stick with it. When she visited here, she did a great job of rearranging my studio shelves.

Madeline is creative and smart. She’s a great reader, and she can relay the gist of a story in a way that makes me want to read it, too. She is a wonderful story-teller. Like her Mom, she’s not in the least intimidated when it comes to making art. She’ll tackle any medium and any subject matter. Whether with paints or colored pencils or markers, Madeline will impress me with how she uses the material at hand. I’ve seen her get frustrated in her attempts, but she won’t say, “I can’t draw people…or horses…or whatever…” She knows she can, or that she’ll try until she’s able to.

Madeline is generous and kind. She loves all animals and takes good care of her own pets. She doesn’t like to see anyone unhappy, and she won’t tolerate anyone feeling left out. I’ve seen her go out of her way to include the smallest, shyest child in whatever activity she was doing. She once said to me, “Grandma Cindy, you are the nicest woman in North America”. Now, that’s generous!

It may be unfair to single her out as my favorite granddaughter, since she is my only granddaughter. I can honestly say Madeline is the best 12-year-old I know. Or, at least, she will be tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Madeline!