THE GOLDFISH AND THE LAUGHING TREE
Editorial calendars move slowly and the review published at Natural Family Magazine today was one concerning a book I read and wrote about months ago. With the announcement this week of a colleague's illness, I feel like it is an odd synchronicity that the review of Dann's memoir of losing her husband Wilem to brain cancer was timed for today. The Goldfish went on Vacation is a powerful book dealing with what we tell our children, and ourselves, when confronted with death and loss. Dann (who also wrote the book which became an old cult-favorite movie, Mermaids) handles the subject matter with bittersweet humor and a gentle touch. Read my review here.
The laughing tree photo is because this is what I see upon exiting my front door every single day:
I painted the grinning tree there when my oldest girl was just a toddler and had fallen hard for a massive oak in the neighborhood with a smile splashed on in black and white. That other tree was cut down last year, blighted with age and disease. Our laughing tree gets a touch-up every spring and greets me with a smile whenever I have to go out and face the world.
Editorial calendars move slowly and the review published at Natural Family Magazine today was one concerning a book I read and wrote about months ago. With the announcement this week of a colleague's illness, I feel like it is an odd synchronicity that the review of Dann's memoir of losing her husband Wilem to brain cancer was timed for today. The Goldfish went on Vacation is a powerful book dealing with what we tell our children, and ourselves, when confronted with death and loss. Dann (who also wrote the book which became an old cult-favorite movie, Mermaids) handles the subject matter with bittersweet humor and a gentle touch. Read my review here.
The laughing tree photo is because this is what I see upon exiting my front door every single day:
I painted the grinning tree there when my oldest girl was just a toddler and had fallen hard for a massive oak in the neighborhood with a smile splashed on in black and white. That other tree was cut down last year, blighted with age and disease. Our laughing tree gets a touch-up every spring and greets me with a smile whenever I have to go out and face the world.
posted by Left-handed Trees... at 11:18 AM
10 Comments:
I'll be sure to read the review. Thanks for the picture and the post.
I love the idea of a laughing tree!! It's so cute. And I'm sorry to hear about your colleague's illness.
I very well may need to find that book and read it as our beloved neighbor passed away this evening and already I can tell my daughter is struggling with her first real experience dealing with the death of a loved one. We haven't even told my son yet - he's the really sensitive one. He sobbed at the movie "Happy Feet" when they banished the misfit penguin.
Sorry to hear about your colleague. This seems to be a tough time of year for many families.
"Fallen hard for an oak", how sweet!
For some reason I dont' get here very often but I think I need to come back more. I always seem to leave with a smile or a thought.
Thanks
I adore every last word of this post and I love that you've painted the laughing tree, how delicious.
xo, k.
The laughing tree is terrific! And I'll go read the review.
what a great way to say hello to the day- a reminder to smile.
how wonderful
that tree is the best...
we have a tree face, but it's a premade one. i like the idea of just getting out there and making a tree face yourself!
Your tree made me smile. Maybe when we own our home someday, i will make a point of painting a smile face lik ethat on our tree. That would be a good thing to see everyday.
I'll go read your review. The books sounds important.
ox
:)
Mmmm. Terrific idea: your family's laughing tree. :)
We needed to cut down trees for safety reasons. We all felt "ouch" as that happened.
I'll be reading your review after some shut eye. That synchronicity hit me. I can only imagine how it affects you.
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