A very special giftA very special gift

As we were driving back to my house after the baby shower last weekend, my sister said she had something in her car for me.

She didn’t have it wrapped, so she didn’t bring it to the shower.  I know, I told her she should have brought it because everyone would have wanted to see it!

She painted this for the baby’s room:

Mom and Grandma Bonnie were with me when she presented this to me, and even though I got tears in my eyes immediately when I started reading it, Mom was much worse.  I’m trying to decide if sobbing would be too strong of a word…

A little bit of family background:  my sister, brother and I were raised on Bob Dylan.  My parents were/are fans of his music – I’d say mostly his early stuff through the mid-eighties.  When we were kids, Dad played his guitar for us a lot.  And he played a lot of Dylan.  {Hmmm, is it a coincidence that the guy I chose to marry plays the guitar for our kids every night?}

I distinctly remember hearing recorded songs for the first time and already knowing all the lyrics because Dad had played them so much.  I’ll always remember and cherish that Bob Dylan songbook that he played from a lot of the time.  In fact, I might have stolen the book from him while I was learning how to play the guitar (it’s my birthright as the oldest).  I did replace it for him, either for a Christmas or birthday present, I found a copy of the out-of-print book that wasn’t extremely worn and falling apart like his original copy was… is.

I guess I should fill you in now if you didn’t know:  the painting shows lyrics of the Bob Dylan song “Forever Young”.  And yes, it’s Bob Dylan’s original version and not Rod Stewart’s knock-off version.  Please don’t misunderstand.

Naturally, I was very touched to see these lyrics in the context of a greeting, a wish, a prayer for my little boy.  It’s just so perfect for the nursery.  I haven’t found the perfect spot in the room for it just yet (because I have SO much work to do in there still), but here’s a picture of just how perfect it will look in there against the soft yellow walls:

My sister is the best.  In addition to having this unbelievable talent for painting, drawing… art in general, she has the thoughtful nature to make it about something.  Do you know what I mean?

Thank you, Emily.  It’s so special.  I’m going to think of you and our love for us every time I look at it.