Holy Mama

Holy Mama!

A few days ago was Papa’s 76th birthday. In 41 years, I don’t recall ever giving him a gift. About a month ago, while visiting Mama and Papa I took a photo of Mama hanging on the wall and asked him if I could bring it home to sketch. It is a photo of Mama’s First Holy Communion. He said that he keeps in eyesight to remind him of why he does what he does. For the past couple of years he has been taking care of Mama as she has been living with ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease.) The photo “keeps him going,” he says. I got teary-eyed at hearing him say that, as I know it’s been a difficult journey for them both. His compassion for her is remarkable! Her courage to live onward with so much love in her heart is an inspiration to us all. I continue to be inspired to paint my ‘little girls’ of her and I am honored to be able to give him this gift. I am eternally grateful to them both.