This one moved me to tears. Maybe because my mom also had macular (although she certainly wasn't an artist). Maybe because of how you captured the fleeting nature of time.
How fascinating to find the video of your father after his death. And your explanation of what was happening to him at the time with his own vision made me feel an unusual tenderness toward him as an artist (rather than a father). And I found myself watching more videos about him.... and seeing through a daughter's eyes.
Yes, your piece is all the more moving because it’s a very strange video— what is the context for all that talk about color? Who is interrogating Lennart and why? I couldn’t tell if they were agreeing or disagreeing— and all of it in front of a naked female form. But you hold all that together: the strangeness of the loss of presence, the blurriness of the past…. Your writing is always so surprising and thoughtful.
It IS a strange video. my father had a circle around him of devoted admirers. Anything he said about paint or painting, they hung on his words and craved proximity to him. Thank you for these kind words. Let’s talk soon too
´Yet, now it feels normal to find him alive and talking online. Isn’t it common to feel like we can pick up the phone and call our late parents? How long does that last? It’s faded, I realize, writing here.’
I found this really resonated, Eliza. I so miss the sound of my parents’ voices, the almost daily calls from my mum. The short snippets of recordings I have of them speaking are so precious. But I’ve stopped my habit of looking at the landline answerphone, expecting the light to flash, as my mum was the only one who ever rang it.
So moving. This one will stay with me fur a long time, I think. The image of the one easel somehow heightens all the rest, although I don’t know how, exactly.
This one moved me to tears. Maybe because my mom also had macular (although she certainly wasn't an artist). Maybe because of how you captured the fleeting nature of time.
Thank you, Amy. Macular degeneration is so awful, and his was so aggressive.
How fascinating to find the video of your father after his death. And your explanation of what was happening to him at the time with his own vision made me feel an unusual tenderness toward him as an artist (rather than a father). And I found myself watching more videos about him.... and seeing through a daughter's eyes.
Thank you, Jill. He does have a considerable life in the Cloud.
Yes, your piece is all the more moving because it’s a very strange video— what is the context for all that talk about color? Who is interrogating Lennart and why? I couldn’t tell if they were agreeing or disagreeing— and all of it in front of a naked female form. But you hold all that together: the strangeness of the loss of presence, the blurriness of the past…. Your writing is always so surprising and thoughtful.
It IS a strange video. my father had a circle around him of devoted admirers. Anything he said about paint or painting, they hung on his words and craved proximity to him. Thank you for these kind words. Let’s talk soon too
´Yet, now it feels normal to find him alive and talking online. Isn’t it common to feel like we can pick up the phone and call our late parents? How long does that last? It’s faded, I realize, writing here.’
I found this really resonated, Eliza. I so miss the sound of my parents’ voices, the almost daily calls from my mum. The short snippets of recordings I have of them speaking are so precious. But I’ve stopped my habit of looking at the landline answerphone, expecting the light to flash, as my mum was the only one who ever rang it.
So touching, Wendy
“Once that may have been heaven, but now it’s the cloud.” Love that.
So moving. This one will stay with me fur a long time, I think. The image of the one easel somehow heightens all the rest, although I don’t know how, exactly.
Thank you, Maria
I found this extremely moving, gut wrenching, actually.
Thank you, Lucy. Also- I read your last post aloud to Kim and a friend in Boston. Smile
That’s just about the loveliest thing I’ve ever heard! Thank you!!
I thought you should know 😊
Heartfelt, gorgeous writing! Pulls me inward thinking of my own parents death!
Thank you, and thank you for your loyal readership.