When I think about resilience my mother comes to mind. She was
the symbol of resilience. My mother stayed mostly positive and
curious about the world for her whole life, despite living with
a serious lung disease, and spending the last years of her life
blind. She lived alone after my father died, and managed her
house, cut her lawn with a tractor, swam in her pool, was
determined to stay fit. She was very generous, and volunteered
all of her life.
If I needed her to take care of my children -- almost at a moment's
notice -- we could drive to Ottawa and drop them off, knowing
that they would have a wonderful time, while we had a tiny
holiday. I miss her every day, and love her forever.
After my father died she travelled a lot, following her passion
for art history and languages. When I showed in Italy at
the Florence Biennale for the first time, my mother told me
every church I should visit, and knew so much about the city.
This drawing is a fast sketch -- Inktober style -- that is probably
the best drawing I ever did of her. Someday I'll paint a good
portrait of Mommy. She was very beautiful, but had no idea that
she was.
Have a loving your life day.
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