@r.s.kadoodles

My Dad died a week ago today. Two days ago we laid him to rest beside my Mom. Today we celebrate his life, grieve our loss, and consider his legacy. I have been surrounded over the last few days by family - My loving, teasing, funny, embracing, warm, gracious, singing family. I brought some art stuff along with me on my trip but didn't feel moved to make anything until this morning, the day of Dad's funeral. My mind has been on family so I started to consider the animals of Turtle Island that represent family and community. I first had in mind to create a group of some kind of bird or animal. Instead a single orca felt right. As I was working on this during a quiet and beautiful morning, it dawned on me that many Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest see a connection with the souls of those who have died with the orca. I'm sure my subconscious was working overtime and it took awhile for my conscious mind to catch up. It now seems so fitting to picture a single orca, as a reminder of the soul of my father passed on to a new creation, at the same time representing the vast and impactful family around me now in the present. My Dad and Mom are only gone in the physical sense, in the sense of Time we are aware of. They live on strongly and sweetly in a family legacy, in people who make this world warmer, kinder, more gracious, and embracing. I am overwhelmed with pride and love for that family, and so thankful for the legacy that continues through generations. #family #community #legacy #Dad #Mom #orca #turtleisland #artmarkers #markerart #drawing #artasremembrance #RIP #Memorial #familylegacy