"Fritzi and Me"

The other night I watched a movie titled "Marley and Me" with the understanding that it was supposed to be comical. I admit that parts of the movie did meet that expectation, but the rest of it reminded me of "Fritzi and Me"... my home videos with my dog. 

There was a time when I was overweight, had braces, and only 4 friends at the lunch table... only 2 of those friends kept in touch through high school... one through my first year of college... but people are people. Sometimes, it can be hard to rely on people to stick with you through hard situations. It is hard to find people that will love you  no matter what happens or what other people say. Thats why when I turned 8, and my sister was turning 4, we adopted Fritz (my dog). I chose to put on an act for years... and I realize that in the end, it has always been "Fritzi and Me". I left messages on the house phone while I was in Italy so that he could hear my voice on the answering machine. I skyped him as much as I could at school. He takes road trips with me to St. Louis and back. He watches movies, goes running, listens to me, cries with me... He is my best friend. He knows more about me than anyone else in the world. He has all my secrets.

Now, my best friend is 11 years old... and he is losing function of his legs. I think I must have been contagious or something, but he is old for a dog. He is moving so much slower and he is getting pushed aside so people can admire the new puppy my sister just brought home. He looked and me and there was a moment where I empathized with him. I know what it is like to be pushed aside for the younger more attractive one... but Fritz and I ... we're something special. He makes me feel special. We were outcast, but we had and still have each other. I just hope it lasts longer than I have been told.

In the movie "Marley and Me", the dog has to be put down. I'm afraid that may be me soon... at the vet with my dog. The only difference is that its not any ordinary dog... He's my other half. 

The Summer of 2009

This summer I decided that I was going to figure out where I was going with my art. Art is a big part of who I am and how I react to situations. 

Art has pushed me this summer:

I went to Italy only to confirm how much I love what I do. I learned more in 5 and 1/2 weeks than I did in the entire past year of college. This struck a bit of a nerve with me once I returned home and compared the amount of SACI work, and the quality of that work, to my Drake work. There was not only more SACI work, but my SACI work was much better than the Drake art work. (YIKES)

Art has been my joy:

I shared my love for drawing with little kids in Impruneta. I love when smiles are contagious. I love how I can share something I am passionate about with other people around the world. ART IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE! HOW COOL IS THAT?!

Art has been my therapy:

Since my return from my crazy adventures via vespa, I have become very weak. Its like one of my "weak days" times ten. While incapable to move by entire body by myself, I had full control of my hands. I was able to alter my photos (via computer), print them, trace, and color alterations into a twenty piece series of architectural drawings based on my favorite places in Italia. Though I did watch my fair share of NCIS and BONES, I spent majority of my time drawing in the company of my family's two dogs. 

Art has always been my therapy. When something interesting or important crosses my mind, I write how I would draw that "something". My thoughts can be read later and applied to paper, canvas, walls... haha. I found that the world is my medium. I say that with limitations, b/c like me, everything on earth has its limitations.

Within my limitations... I have decided that I will pursue art therapy and help people use art as a method of recovery, as I have used it many times for such purposes. My goal is to, one day, work at the Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago... spreading smiles to people that really need them. 

How I'm going to meet my goal, I'm not sure yet :) I'll find a way. Even if it isn't Children's Memorial... and life doesn't work how we plan, everything usually works out for the best anyway. In the meantime - having a goal is a good place to start.