Written by Tonight I’m running a bit behind on this post as Philippe and I attended a work event that I had this evening. It was a Halloween party where several of the local businesses compete in creating their best Trunk or Treat display for visiting children. This originally meant decorating the trunk of a car, but after my own creative team, not surprisingly, broke the rules last year, its since lapsed into creating whatever the heck you want in the width of a parking space. Way more fun! We created a pop-up Monster Arcade that was super popular with the kids and had cute characters, games, and prizes. It was a blast, and at the close of the event we were awarded first place! So yay! Then I rushed home to a Doodlewash prompt of “bones” and wasn’t sure what to sketch. But after spending the evening with little beings a fraction of my age and parents far younger as well, dinosaur was the first thing that popped into my head. This wasn’t entirely an age thing, as I never really worry too much about that, but mostly because there were at least five little dinosaurs at the party this evening. So scribbling one back into existence just felt like the right thing to do.
And yet, age is definitely an interesting thing to contemplate. I am certainly someone who acts and thinks far younger than my age, but that doesn’t change my age one bit. I’m still approaching 50 and filled with thoughts of whether or not I’ve accomplished all that I could. I often feel like I’m a bit of a late bloomer and the best is yet to come. I only started sketching a little over three years ago and wish now that I had started far sooner. Had I listened to my heart years ago, I would be years ahead in my ability now and my life might have taken a completely different course. That’s, at least, the internal dialogue that appears in my head. The reality is, I don’t think I would have changed a thing about my journey as it’s been a perfectly wonderful one. And I’m not entirely sure that the younger me would have embraced things with quite the focus I’m able to muster now. So, in many ways, things do happen for a reason at the time they are blissfully meant to happen. It’s never too late to finally try something that you love and follow your passion. And if you’re someone far younger reading this now, don’t wait. Chase that dream with all the love you can!
I’ve actually spent my entire life chasing dreams. I looked at those little kids this evening and could see their dreams as well. Like the little boy who wanted to be a fireman when he grows up, this month at least, whose dad proudly showed off the firetruck he made out of a box. And I watched the wonderful layers of personality that still exist in all of us. Like the beautiful little girl dressed as a fairy ballerina who chose the gooey eyeballs as her prize instead of the little unicorns or bubbles. Or the little boy dressed as a cupcake who rushed straight for those unicorns and bubbles. We’re built upon layers of history, but there’s never really one type of person. Each of us is beautifully unique and wonderful in our own way. These are thoughts and things that I never really stopped to consider when I was young. I didn’t appreciate the differences as much as wanting things to go my own way. So as I age each day now, I welcome the wisdom that comes with every precious moment. And that’s why, these days, when I find myself one of the oldest in a crowd, I can happily embrace feeling like a dinosaur.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Vermilion, and Indigo. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Photo Reference: FunkMonk. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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I love your dinosaur bones. You know, though, I can never see a T-Rex without thinking of the time, I was talking about one, and accidentally said Tyrannosaurus Sex. I mean – it must have been!
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕And HAHAHA! Love that!! The Tyrannosaurus Sex… the only dinosaur incapable of extinction. lol 😉
Sounds like a fun time, Charlie! 🎃 I enjoyed your stories tonight and glad you can embrace feeling like a dinosaur, your sketch is fabulous! 🦖
Thanks so much, Jill! 😃💕Glad you enjoyed this one! I embrace my dino with pride! hehe 😉
Wow! The line work, detail, and colors on your skeleton are superb! Congrats on First Place in the Halloween event! It sounds like you and your team made a lot of kids and parents happy.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕Yeah, it was such a fun night! I love making people happy!
Dinosaurs were always popular at the library with kids of a certain age. 6 to 12 I would say. Me, I was a horse girl. I even had a horse named Chester. I trick or treated for the last time when I was 10. We moved to the country and houses were too far apart to bother. No one ever thought of taking the kids to town to collect candy. And where we live now is in the country too, so we never have kids come to our doir. Joe always buys a bag of candy just in case. But it is always something that we like so we can eat the leftovers! 😂😂
Yeah, I was totally into horses at that age as well! hehe… Philippe was the dinosaur lover in our house. And yay to getting to keep all the candy for yourselves! lol 😉 😃💕
Wow! You really didn’t have much time to do this? As I roll my eyes. He is amazing! I chose to do a puppy with a bone in his mouth. Lol
Awesome!! A puppy with a bone is a great idea! 😃💕 And yeah, this is perfectly scribbled, but I’ve kinda loved going back to scribbling again. There’s a fun energy there!
Ohhhh scribbling does sound fun! I’ll give it a try.
Wonderful dinosaur and it sounds like a really fun evening!!
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 The evening was a total blast!
This is a great dinasauer…so many bones you had to draw. Your story is dear, especially how you described the kids. Your event had to be a ton of fun. Congrats on winning first place!!!
Thanks so much, June! 😃💕 It was fun to win, but way more fun to see those kids having such a fun time!
Charlie says “We’re built upon layers of history, but there’s never really one type of person. Each of us is beautifully unique and wonderful in our own way”
You always amaze me, Charlie. I’d like to paint that quote on the sky so that every living being could absorb it
and live it. There would be no more war, and certainly much less unhappiness.
One thing is for sure, you will never be a dinosaur; your art and wisdom will live forevermore.
Thanks so much, Sarah! 😃💕 You’re so wonderful… I can’t thank you enough for repeating my words back to me. They’re written in the moment and I don’t even have time to go back and read what comes out most days. It’s lovely to know you find wisdom there! (and honestly just good writing! yay!).
Charlie,
You give more than you know to all who come across your work. I am ever thankful.
Aww… seriously… I’m thankful of YOU! It’s not always easy to show up each and every day, yet, knowing there’s even one person who appreciates it makes me come back and try again! Thank you so much!