Unfettered Talent

On a sweltering hot August day in the summer of 2007 I got a call from a neighbor asking if I could come over. Ready for a break for any reason, I obliged and was greeted by the entire family grinning and giggling. The reason was to present me with a water color of Bacchus done by their then eleven year old son. I was absolutely stunned.

Bacchus was beginning to get up in years and I knew I had a wonderful, personal keepsake that I would treasure forever. It hangs today in the kitchen next to the Swiss cowbell I toted all the way home from one of our excursions. I thought they were an appropriate compliment to one another!

I've written about this family before as being models for home schooling. All three of the youngsters are bright and talented and I miss having them in the neighborhood a lot. They had sheep and goats and alpacas and dogs that I loved to visit and often did. They were the type of neighbors that were always there if you needed them. They've moved on to property more akin to their lifestyle yet I still find myself craning my neck to see if any of the critters are out and about.

What I really miss, however, is keeping track of the kids' accomplishments. Especially the young water colorist. Being an artist of sorts myself, I have a soft spot in my heart for him. He has an immense talent and I admire the way his parents have handled his development. They see that he is getting the necessary training to hone his skills, yet keeping it controlled so that he can enjoy the freedom and joy of just being a boy.

Every once in awhile, a justly proud Mom will send me a photo of a new painting. I'd like to share the latest with you. The young man is beginning his teen years now. What a future he has ahead of him! And this is his dog. I see two kinds of love in this painting. That of a boy for his dog and that of a young artist for his medium. Having a work of his done especially for me is one of the highlights of having had our paths cross.