This art featured in my memoir, Incandescence: Rising Above Darkness is included as a moment of serenity between chapters and does not necessarily have any literal connection to the story.
Incandescence: Rising Above Darkness Excerpt Chapter #30 The Articulate Bag Lady And The Elegant Primitive
It never stopped making her laugh when I called my mother the “articulate bag lady,” which came from her extensive classical education combined with her humility and lack of vanity. I loved that she named me the “elegant primitive,” describing my self-taught aesthetic style.
I was a typical lost teenager in an atypical life when at fourteen years old, I proclaimed, “I want to be perfect.”
In her gentle voice, my mother responded, “That’s nice, dear,” and looking deeply into my eyes, she continued, “as long as you enjoy the journey, since no one ever gets there.” She had a way of speaking the harsh truth in a reassuring manner. “Accept your imperfections as perfect, dear.” My mother’s words were reassuring and motivating.
I did not know what to do with my life, so I asked the wisest person I knew, “Where do I fit into this world?”
My mother answered with calm confidence, “You are a visionary, dear.”
My youthful lack of understanding snapped back sarcastically, “Oh great. That will look fabulous on a resume. They will be lining up to hire me!”
“You will find your way. You always do.”
Clare Cooley
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