When I was about nine years old, I had two best friends- Nicole and Jenna. We would fight a lot, but we also had a lot of fun with each other too. Life was good- Summers spent in Nicole's pool and chilly Fall days riding our bikes through our neighborhood streets. From what I can recall at that age, Jenna's Mom was a Saint. One day we were not allowed to play until we paid a visit to Katie, a girl a little younger than us who broke her leg. We promptly rode our bikes to the outskirts of our neighborhood where her home was located. I think we even took a goodie basket carefully prepared by Jenna's Mom. We knocked and Katie's mom invited us in. There was Katie- sitting on a bed in the living room. She looked like a normal six year old girl- the only difference between her and us was that she was confined to her bed because of her leg. Jenna's mom wanted us to learn something that day and I'm sure it was something different for each of us. That day I learned that service and gratitude go hand in hand. I was grateful for what I had in that moment- my legs- so that I could ride my bike with my friends. I felt the spirit of service seep into my heart that day. Even though Jenna's Mom practically forced us reluctant girls to pay Katie a visit, I was able to gain so much more out of that time than how it would have been spent by playing with Barbies.
Summer of 2008. I was at my Mom and Dad's quiet home. I was alone. I went to the garage and rummaged through the boxes of craft supplies. I took a few inside to the middle of the front room floor. I plopped myself down and got to work. I needed to make something- I didn't know what but it had to be good. I had just destroyed my relationship with my sister. A serious amount of silence between us arose from the ashes of an unruly discussion. This was too much for sisters and best friends to hold between each other like a wall of bricks. I wish I had a sledge hammer but unfortunately only my sister possessed that tool and she wasn't ready to allow open air between us. The wall held. I cried. I hung my white flag but I couldn't build a pole tall enough to hang it. It was useless. I have waited for a lot of things in my life but that topped the list of my experience of waiting in agony. I didn't know if I would ever have the one person in my life who I needed the most. So I got to work. I pulled out accoutrements from my fond childhood- pipe cleaners, buttons, jewels, ribbon, felt, beads, feathers, and lace. These are pieces which define me as an artist today because they have been embedded in my memory and are associated with words such as beautiful, peace and flowing. I started to cut the felt. One piece and then two. The textile started taking shape and suddenly I knew what I must create- what was being presented to me to create. Immediately the cupcake started to take on a personality that was much like my sister. She is comforting, sweet, giving, beautiful and delicate. Sometimes you need to lose something in order to appreciate it more. I can tell you that to this day, I never take my sister for granted. I know she may not be with me one day and I hope that day can be avoided for many years because I have so much more to share with her. I love you Sis. I hope you know how close I hold you to my heart. I'm sorry I've let you down a lot. I'm sorry I allowed our relationship to become tainted. I know that you are the strong one and I am ok with that. I've never needed to be the leader because I had someone much better to follow. I hope you enjoyed the cupcake.
Amy xoxo
"Wonderwall"
by Oasis
Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now
Backbeat the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels
The way I do about you now
And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
I don't know how
Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall
Today was gonna be the day
But they'll never throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you're not to do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do
About you now
And all the roads that lead you there were winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
But I don't know how
I said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall
I said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after an
You're my wonderwall
Said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me
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