Destination Unknown

 

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           When I was working on this painting I often thought “destination unknown…that’s what this represents”. The painting was done from a photo that I’d taken of my daughter Allison and her friend Jamie on our yearly summer trip to visit my parents in Michigan. We had gone to Port Huron for the day. I told the girls to sit on the tracks and do their best to look serious. It was not easy to capture the image because they had a hard time keeping straight faces! But they finally did and I really liked the picture. To me it represented the future, unknown and full of possibility.
​          With the sale of this painting, I have the opportunity to donate to a wonderful cause that is another story of a “destination unknown”. My friend Kim suffered a pediatric stroke when she was 6 years old.  She’s an amazing lady and I’m blessed to count her as a friend. And, she’s running the Boston Marathon this year! The following is her story, in her words: “Without warning, a healthy 6 year old incurred a pediatric (ischemic) stroke, losing most function and ability. She couldn't walk, talk or function...it changed my world and certainly my parents' world! Learning to walk and talk again, albeit with abnormal gait, I now thrive as a married woman with children and grandchildren, managing a career and active church life! When my oldest able-bodied daughter began running cross-country in high school, I began running initially as a way of supporting and encouraging her. Now, I run because of the sheer joy and gratitude experienced in the life I am incredibly blessed to live! Yes, it is true that I will never win a race with the slower pace I run. However, that is not my ultimate desire. My desire is to continue building awareness that there is quality life following stroke! I want those affected by stroke directly and their loved ones to see, first hand, a successful stroke story! I also seek to dispel the misnomer that stroke is an "old people's disease." It isn't! Stroke can and does impact individuals of all ages! So, this is, in part, why running for Tedy's Team is so important for me! My recovery from stroke was and is (at times) a lonely journey; a marathon journey! I’m seeking to run the distance for those families and stroke survivors and be a "face of hope."
​             I doubt that all those years ago Kim or her parents envisioned her doing something as incredible as running the Boston Marathon. Talk about a destination unknown! I’m totally excited for her and grateful that I could help support her.