grandparents | The Direction of Intention

Forward The Story [on Merely A Thought Monday]

Posted on May 22, 2023 by davidrobinsoncreative

A Haiku

A new era dawns./A chapter closes, fresh earth/forwards the story.

Bellaruth Naperstack often ends her meditations with the phrase, “…and so you are.” As cousin Kate guided us through the forgotten cemetery on the other side of town, she led us to the gravesite of my great, great, great, great grandfather and grandmother. The writing on the stone was nearly washed away with time. As Kate read their obituaries, Bellaruth’s phrase popped up in my mind. The summation of a life, punctuated by the survivors. The children and grandchildren. The next generation. And the next and the next.

It took me by surprise, this meditation on life. The phrase popping into my head was not a reference to the end of the lives of distant grandparents, but to me. “These are your people. This is your root.” They lead to me. I am the next chapter, the continuation of the story.

“And so you are.”

read Kerri’s blogpost about AND SO YOU ARE

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Filed under: Family, Gratitude, Identity | Tagged: ancestors, artistry, Bellaruth Naperstack, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, death, family, grandparents, Kerri Sherwood, kerri sherwood itunes, kerrisherwood.com, life, life stories, meditation, meditations, obituary, root, story, studio melange, the melange | 1 Comment »

Be Grand! [on saturday morning smack-dab.]

Posted on May 7, 2022 by davidrobinsoncreative

Little pot roasts are popping up everywhere! Adorable bundles of baby smell and killer smiles. In our pal-group, the babies are having babies. And it’s transforming us into something a little more grand.

Not having had children of my own (I am the proud papa of my two given-children), I’ve spent my life as the weird uncle. I taught my toddler niece to say, “I want another margarita!” and my sister was not pleased. I’ve never successfully changed a diaper but I’ve had riotous fun with many crawling creatives, banging pots and breaking crayons. Uncles, like grandparents, are there to break the rules.

Of this I am certain: Kerri dreams of heaping love and presents on her future grand-pot-roasts; I can’t wait to finger paint and then meet after the mess at the Cheerio bar. Green fingers and snacks! A sure sign that life is grand.

read Kerri’s blogpost on SNACK TIME!

[happy mother’s day!]

Filed under: smack-dab | Tagged: aarp, aging, artistry, babies, Cheerios, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, finger paint, grandparenthood, grandparents, Kerri Sherwood, kerri sherwood itunes, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, life, parenthood, snack time, snacks, story, studio melange, the melange, toddlers, two artists | 1 Comment »

Find Your Treasures [On Chicken Marsala Monday]

Posted on April 16, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

A Chicken Nugget from studio melange to start your week.

find your treasures WITH EYES jpeg copy 3

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I adored my grandpa Chan. I carry his middle name. Because he lived in Iowa and I grew up in Colorado my time with him was rare and precious. After his death, as his sons were sorting through his possessions, they asked if I wanted anything, something he might want me to have or to keep close. Immediately I thought of one thing: an old, barely functioning nutcracker that he kept by the pool table in his basement. He let me win many games at that table. We often cracked nuts during my surprising winning streaks. I wanted it because he held it and, as treasures go, now, for me, it holds him.

I keep Chan’s nutcracker in a special box (DeMarcus’ paint box – another priceless treasure). When I am feeling blue or somehow alone in the world, I retreat to my basement and hold that nutcracker in my hand. I feel the presence of a man, my grandfather, so full of laughter and more than his share of mischief. “Do you want to shoot some pool?” I ask, feeling the alone-ness dissipate.