In my last post, I spoke about how unlikely it is that Vernon as-we-once-knew-him will be coming back. But giving up on him is out of the question. He still has life in him. He’s still here. He can talk. He can hear. He can see.  And he can paint. That’s pretty much all he is capable of, but those aren’t nothing, are they? In fact, for me, they would probably the last things I’d want to let go of too.

Sometimes I think about this quote by Brene Brown: “The only unique contribution that we will ever make in this world will be born of our creativity.” True or not, it makes a compelling case for making something fresh, something your own, staking a claim. It’s a way to move the balance from all the unfairness somehow. It gets something out of you into the world instead.

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Vernon was put into a wheelchair after Justine and I took him out for a very short (and stressful) drive in the car the other day. He was in an impatient mood but he was up for painting a bit. I recognized the shape he made immediately. A wheelchair.

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So I asked him to make another…

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Then he just took off…

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(my fault on choice of paint)

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I started thinking that maybe painting (albeit frustrating for Vernon and sometimes those helping him) would be a way to discover the “New Vernon.” Obviously, he could always draw and paint, but perhaps he’ll be freer this round or develop a new style.  Who knows? They will be small steps, regardless.

But he can see and he can paint. Therefore, he can still contribute while he is here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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