NAMASTE NOW
A Forgotten Treasure Brought Dad Back to Life
Displaying gifts keeps loved ones close
I grabbed my childhood photo album, looking for a certain picture. “Oh!” I exclaimed involuntarily as I opened it to find a brightly colored painting sandwiched between the cover and the first page. It unlocked a memory from the day I received it.
“Here Honey, this is for you. I painted it in class.” Dad handed me the sheet of art paper.
“Wow Dad, this is really good!” I didn’t have to feign enthusiasm, I was impressed with what I jokingly dubbed Still Life with Peppers. Dad wasn’t an artist, he was freshly retired and taking a beginner’s watercolor class for fun.
I don’t remember his reaction, nor do I recall tucking the painting into the photo album for safekeeping. It’s dated “1998,” so it’s no surprise the memory is fuzzy.
I spent a long time examining my rediscovered treasure. When someone’s been gone twelve years, it’s rare to unearth a keepsake you didn’t remember you had.
I’m not an artist so I can’t speak to the skill level. There are clunky spots that suggest an amateur’s hand. But there are also some deft strokes. I’m particularly impressed by how the red of the pepper is dulled down where it’s covered by the green bowl.
