Until We Meet Again
©2012 Bill Werle
Acrylic 12 x 24
This white egret flying is in honor of my father's passing May 20, 2012.
A couple hours after selling a series of 5 wine paintings I received a call that my father was in the hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm and was there in body only. I received the phone call no child ever wants to get at 4 the next morning.
My father, my hero in a lot of respects, died doing what he loved best, fishing for crappies in northern MN with his buddies. No suffering, no extended hospital stay, no nursing home. Just as he lived his life, he pretty much went on his own terms.
Dad taught me that marching to your own drumbeat was an OK thing. He didn't necessarily like some of my beats at times but he came to accept and respect it. He taught me to live your own life, not somebody else's, but your own and live it to the fullest. He was a hard working guy because that enabled him to play even harder. He wasn't perfect and for that I love him dearly. He taught me that men DO cry and that it's OK provided you weren't just being a baby. :) I learned to be passionate about life, not take oneself to seriously, to respect the one's you love and laugh as much as you can (then laugh some more). So much of who I am today is because of that man. Dad was my Dad, that mythological super hero that revealed the Peter Parker/Clark Kent reality as one get's older. Yet, in my mind he still wore that cape occasionally.
Just one more reason why we paint, to heal. Life is so fleeting folks, tell your kids, husbands/wives, parents etc.. that you love them.
