This January and February has just been the worstest, hasn’t it? It’s just been so cold and gray, with a sprinkling of cold and gray on top — for good measure.
I find myself so mopey at this time of year. My humor disappears, and my serious thoughts get a bit… carried away. A couple weeks ago, my husband was out of town. Everything was fine, but I almost cried when I started to think about how at that moment there was not a single man in the state of Utah who loves me. My brothers, who all lived in Utah at one point, abandoned me for Georgia and the army and sunny Costa Rica and Idaho and warm California. With my husband out of Utah at the moment, who would I call if my car broke down? Nobody, that’s who. My daughters and I would just sit in the middle of the intersection, blocking traffic, and sob our eyes out because my brothers are gone. GONE.
See? This time of year warps my mind.
When winter drags on like it does during the wretched month of February, I get through by just sticking to routines. The more routines to follow, the more items to check off my check-list, the closer I get to sunshine and walks outside. Ooh! Outside! What’s it like?
Today, one of my favorite new artists, Annie Henrie, was downtown at Deseret Book selling her prints and talking to her doting fans. I’ve had this day on my calendar for a month, and I’ve been so excited to meet her. I knew a visit with this woman would help me get out of my self-pity slump.
And then, as luck would have it, we woke up to a blizzarding world. It was hard to tell if the roads would be safe enough for travel, and I began to talk myself out of my much-anticipated outing. But every now and then, I like to do things that are incredibly difficult to prove to myself that I’m amazing.
Today I decided to be amazing by taking two little girls on public transportation. We took the train downtown, and I decided I should just check trains off my list of acceptable travel until 18-month-old Emma is capable of having sane conversations, rather than screams of frustration.
In addition to the bad decision of bringing my little bundle of anger on a train, I decided to leave my stroller in the trunk. “I can just carry her when we’re waiting for the train, and she can walk when we’re at the mall,” I thought. But really, it was more like wrestling a lion than carrying a sweet baby.
Her highness’ anger was appeased (at last!) when we reached the mall early, and I allowed her to run and walk to her heart’s content.
But then it was time to meet Annie Henrie, who was set up in the middle of several framed pieces of artwork. I could see they were like dominoes — if my little darling got near them, they would be knocked over into a heap. So back into my arms went the angry bird, and Annie graciously talked to me while I ignored my toddler’s screams of protest.
I brought along a print I had previously bought so Annie could sign it, and I told her how my blond baby was about that size and my brunette daughter was about that size when I bought it. And the stance of the little girl in the picture makes me think of my 5-year-old Lydia, who is always leaning on me and being near. I loved the imagery of an angel protecting and helping me with my girls, so I had to have it when I saw it. And I’ve been in love with Annie’s work ever since.
{This image is from her website, www.anniehenrie.com.}
Today I bought this beauty called “Interrupting Angels.”
{Please forgive the horrible quality of this picture! I took it with my phone. No forgiveness. Go to her website to see more of her work. Please. Maybe that will make up for the horrible quality of this picture!}
The woman is writing music, and the angels beckon to her to guide her creativity in a different course. This one speaks to me as I’ve been struggling and struggling to find the course of a creative project I’m working on. I feel I need to have a bit less of an I-can-do-this-all-on-my-own attitude, and more of a Heaven-help-me attitude.
And now, refreshed after meeting a favorite artist and bringing a piece of her creativity into my home to inspire me, it’s as if Heaven itself is smiling upon me — because at this moment, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. The temperatures are still unspeakable, but we’re taking a step in the right direction. Time to free my mind from oppressive winter. We’re almost there.
{ 4 comments }
Silly, you would call us if your car broke down—but really I understand how you felt at that moment. I feel that way too sometimes. Love the artwork!
My heart is about to burst with excitement for you. I feel the joy and the rush of connecting to a work of art. And to meet the artist-and to talk to her- and to have another beautiful piece of hers with such sweet and encouraging message for you. You are reaching your goal of having beautiful art on your walls. I am so excited (I guess I already said that) but I am. What a wonderful awesome day in the middle of a snow storm.
Oh yes Lydia does stand like that. Wow I love this artist too, I would have loves to go with you. I miss this stuff.
hey becc! come here out of the snow..! it is still a little cold though…but no blizzards! i’m so impressed you took public transport…that is amazing and brave with little ones…i miss little emma and lydi! i HATE when i make the wrong decision about taking a stroller.!!
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