[L, diary, ephēmeris] 1) BLOG

Yesterday, Mother's Day in the Philippines, my sister sent a flurry of short texts and photos of a recent art activity she'd had with her two granddaughters.  Thinking on the meaning of being a mother, thinking of the ability and/or opportunities to give 'mothering' to not only those of one's own genes but to sundry all, I flashed on an early piece of writing produced during a summer visit from Donalie's twins. Inspired by a day filled with the myriad of tasks and events of any mother's life, I saw that it was MINE--me who had not been able to raise her own child--and it was totally fulfilling. My glass was full and running over, not empty or even half-filled by just this one day!  So I sat down and wrote in plain words, no adjectives, those individual moments I'd captured with heart and eye all day long. 

At some point in the creation of the website, I will figure out how and where to place that story, and the ensuing ones that were generated by that first attempt, but for today, Mother's Day in the States, I will simply share the fulsome appreciation of my sister's life as a grandmother (and mine, as an Auntie):

"I am inspired to share with you what happened when I had Tatum and Charlotte last Sunday... We had already started several art projects when they happened to see this photo of Ali from high school, getting an award for her watercolor...

 Charlotte said "that's the painting in the bathroom" and I said you're right and we three went in and discussed it and I said, "isn't that amazing your mommy did that when she was only 16! 

Charlotte said "I want to draw that"..."  So I took it into my living room (their "Art" room), and set her up in front of it with paper and colored pens...she sat right down and this is what she created at FOUR years old:

When Ali came to pick them up, Charlotte proudly showed her and Ali was so impressed (also very tired from studying for 5 hrs so she laid down and fell asleep—I was in hog heaven being able to nurture my girls).

After they left I found Tatum's drawing:

I don't know if she's finished it (she loves to fill her Art with color) so I can't wait to ask her about it but I'm guessing she must have drawn it quickly while we were loading the car...I was again blown away by how talented they are; Tatum is only eight years old!
 
It is such an amazing abstraction of her mother's painting, and I love that she didn't feel the need to show us!  Is it in the blood or is it a cultural inheritance of passion for free expression... Either way it's awesome!!! Love, Donalie "