22 January 2007

heroes

I remember once when I was struggling with a heavy box of books - my arms were in such agony, I was near tears, and a man in a little scooter came up beside me, and offered to drive the box to “wherever” I was going.

I remember another time, I was paying for groceries at Albertson’s, coming up a dollar and 20 cents short. The cashier pulled 5 quarters from her pocket. She added it to the money in my palms, and said, “I know you’re good for it.”

Then there was the time, the windchill was a good 30 below, and I was waiting for the bus, bundled in a hooded parka, 2 scarves, earmuffs, and thinsulated gloves. The young woman next to me stood shivering her stylish blue silk jacket and no hat. I gave her my earmuffs, my glove liners, my scarf, and a good talking to about cold weather injuries. She hugged me, and I wanted to cry.

We breathe for the trees around us, and they breathe for us. A fragile stem pokes out from the snow, and a bird settles there, suspended from the icy ground. And as he lifts his wing to fly away, his talons pierce a pod of tiny seeds.

We give, and we accept. We need, and we are needed.


[the linework is with couple of pencils, and using my thumb and an eraser to "emboss" the bird into relief. the hill behind him is mount jumbo.]

13 comments:

Caroline said...

Love your heroes - blessings to and from strangers.

I once gave a woman the 1p she was missing at the till... in the car park afterwards she came rushing up having just found a penny on the ground with which to pay off this tiny debt!

Anonymous said...

Can't see Mount Jumbo's trunk.

Anonymous said...

Can see a great circle past the frame. Another sensitive image and word combination Catnapping!

Anonymous said...

I had so hoped to meet you today! Maybe next time?

Anonymous said...

How very beautiful, words and art. Thanks for this.

Anonymous said...

lovely heroes :o)

carla said...

What a great post to read as I wake up to start a new day...I'm feeling happy about the world! I love the simple illustration of the bare trees and the bird. It's touching and lovely.

Anonymous said...

When I need a moment of just "pause and refresh" - I come to see what you are doing. Thank you for your words - and for reminding me of the need we all have for each other - earth and man, nature is one. Your art is amazing as usual - how you can come up with such portrayal from so simple a medium is a gift. Thanks.

valerie walsh said...

how did you get so wise? Beautiful and heartwarming art and story!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful recounting of random acts of kindness, tied together by the ying and yang (yin and yan?) of the relationship between bird and plant. Every thing is part of every other thing.
Beautiful. That goes for the illustration, too.

Anonymous said...

The web of life - subtle, confident, calm. You remind us...

Sandy said...

Ooooh Cat, I love this. How can such simple things we do for others and others do for us bring so much warmth to the heart?

Sandy

Kay Aker said...

What a blissful melding of word and image - delicate, yet powerful!