I posted this Inktober drawing last October. It was based on another super
photo by my father. The baby was a little girl named Catherine, who was one
of a family of four children who I babysat starting at the age of seven.
It’s fair to say that I’ve loved babies for my whole life, and I was so lucky
to become friends with this family when I was a little girl growing up in
Ottawa. I spent most of the time when I wasn't in school outside as a child.
That's how I met Catherine's mother, as I was staring at her baby boy
(Catherine's older brother) with my dog, Rags. Catherine's Mom invited us
inside, and I started visiting as often as I could to "help."
My father captured the tenderness I felt for this family with some great black
and white photos.
When I posted the drawing last year as part of Inktober, I looked up Catherine's
mother, and was sorry to see that she had died. Then I looked up the family
on social media, and contacted Catherine. She and her husband came to Toronto
for a visit. Before I found her again I hadn't seen Catherine since my family
moved to Toronto when I was thirteen. We sat at our kitchen table and reconnected
after so many years. And we had a great time talking about her life, and her family.
It was such a sweet visit.
Like me, Catherine is a teacher. I feel so lucky that we met again. Although
we don’t live in the same town we keep in touch, and it's always a great
pleasure to talk to her.
Have an art changes your life day.
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