Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The Primula saga -- a near tragedy

Decided to shorten this post massively so you can read it.
"You've could die or be paralyzed -- this is a Chris
Reeves type injury." I was in the chiropractor's
office with my son Christopher, a healthy, active grade 8 boy.
The day before I'd been cleaning a twig basket with Pledge.
Some of the spray got on our old linoleum kitchen floor and
when Christopher flew into the kitchen to grab some
cookies he fell and bashed his neck against our
antique pine table. First injury. The head banging
contest the next day at school helped the tear in
the cartilage between his second and third vertebrae
rip further -- half way across as it happened.
The numbness, dizzy spells and loss of sensation
in his hands and feet probably saved that boy.



Primulas for spring
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

In the spring I like to buy Primulas -- small flowers
that line the paths of woodland gardens in England.
I used to clump four or five little pots of the
flowers into a woven twig basket.

The story has a happy ending -- Christopher wore a neck brace
for three months, and didn't take gym or do anything
rigorously physical for three months and his neck healed.
Now he is a fine young man. But it could have been quite
different if our chiro hadn't made us fight our way
to the top Orthopedic surgeon at Sick Kids' Hospital in Toronto.

I put the Primulas I bought this year into small bowls.
Julie Davis talked about trying the one stroke
method to paint that she learned from Carol Marine. I don't
know if I've got the method, but I like today's painting anyway.
Thanks Julie and Carol and all the other painters I learn from
every day. As for our Primula incident, I'm not religious, but I do
think the universe has my back.

Have a knowing-you-live-in-a-state-of-grace day.

16 comments:

laura said...

Hi Barbara. Love your primulas--so bright and frank! I seldom acknowledge living in a "state of grace," but stories of near-misses like yours are a humbling reminder!

Melinda said...

OMG, Barbara! What a story. I'm so glad it had a good resolution.

I assume Pledge is banned from your home now.....!

The primulas are simply exquisite. Your composition is spot on, couldn't get any better and you make the "one stroke method" look easy. ha. The dark contrasts/shadows are masterfully placed too.

Keep the primulas. Lose the Pledge!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful story~~ very touching~~
Laura

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

By a state of grace -- I just mean we are lucky -- thanks for your comment. I feel lucky that you like them.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

I purposely left out the 14 hours in emergency, the 10 doctors at least who told me my chiro was a quack before I got to the top guy.

I haven't used Pledge in years, but not because of this incident, because they quit selling the pump bottle in Canada. I don't buy aerosol cans.

I'm glad you like the primulas. I find the one stroke method very hard. I guess I'm a smooshy flow painter. But I like the result so I'll try it again.

You are sweet.

xoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi (Catherine) Laura,

Thanks for the kind comment. Glad you like my blog,

Barbara

Marian Fortunati said...

WOW... the little things in life that can change everything...
I am so happy your story had a happy ending.
We always have to remember to enjoy our primulas and roses each and every day.
I'm going to have to look into that one stroke method.. THANKS

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marion,

It's true. I've been a little leery of housecleaning ever since. Okay maybe that's just an excuse.

Take care,

Barbara

Laurel Daniel said...

WOW - that is sooooo scary! I am happy to hear he is okay. Your primulas are so colorful and oblivious to any danger!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laurel,

I'm sure you've got stories just as scary. Everyone who has raised kids does. Christopher hasn't lived at home for four years since he graduated from university -- but he's staying with us now for a few months and I guess the combo of that fact and the primulas brought the whole story back into my mind. Whew!

xoxoxoBarbara

Edgar said...

Barbara, you're such a dynamo, I can't imagine much you have in common with the snails.

I'm beginning to feel like the Universe has got my back (again) myself... thanks for pointing it out.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Edgar,

Thanks, but I love watching the giant
snails. Maybe their friends say the same thing. Hey man, that's an awesome trail! Yes, we have to keep moving forward, and seeing how we have been taken care of all along.

Keep painting. It matters.

Take care,

Barbara

Liza Hirst said...

Hi Barbara,
First I thought this story had just happened and was really shocked, until I realized that this was in the past and that Christopher is fine now! Glad he is! I hadn't taken in the "8th grade boy". Well, you write a good suspence story, that's for sure.
Coincidentally I tried to do the "one stroke" method this morning - hadn't seen your's - and found it very difficult! It didn't stay at one stroke with me. I admire Carol Marine's work immensly - its so pure!
Like your primulas, too.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thanks so much. I admire the one strokers, and I admire you. Ultimately every one of those ideas is just a way of helping us achieve a specific thing. Half the time I forget where I am, let alone which rule should apply when I'm painting. You do not have that problem. Each piece is just right.

xoxoxo Barbara

Liza Hirst said...

Of course I don't agree! But thank you very much!!!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Of course you don't, but it's true. I have not seen a bad painting by you.

Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!