Posts tagged drawing
A quick sketch of my grandma and me roughly two decades ago.
RawrManifesto
The other day I had to go shopping for art supplies for a new Watercoloring class I’m taking this semester in school. With online coupon deals, I headed to Michael’s arts and crafts store. The supply list was more complicated than it looked and prices varied everywhere. While looking for the type of brushes I needed, I noticed a woman with some watercoloring books in her hands looking in the same area. I asked if she had any idea what she was doing and could she point me in the right direction. She laughed and explained how she’s also a beginner and is just buying stuff (including the books) and is going to teach herself the art. We got into a conversation about how I was an art student and how she just got back from Arizona where she painted for the first time and fell in love with it. Before you knew it we were both looking at my class syllabus for what to get. We price-checked, compared qualities, and talked to workers together until we got what we needed. Due to my financial situation, I was more hesitant to pick up just anything. My syllabus suggested not skimping out on the price because of quality, but I was seriously tempted.
I guess it showed.
While looking at a “value pack”, the lady patted me on the back and politely said “remember what the syllabus said.” I quickly put them back with a mixed feeling of shame yet determination. I meet her on the next aisle to look at drawing pads. As soon as I turned the corner, that’s when it happened.
“Here, take this.” she said with a smile and $40 extended in my direction.
“Whoa, no I couldn’t”, I replied.
She went on to explain how she was “comfortable” and she enjoys blessing others. “Besides, I want to make sure you have the best.”
I was dumbfounded for about 8 seconds. (which feels longer in a conversation.) I said thank you and put the money in my pocket.
I headed to the checkout to pay for my supplies. It came up to $80 and then $60 with all the coupons. I had completely underestimated the cost of painting shit. I reached for my wallet, and that’s when my friend points to the floor and asks if “that your money, dude?”
The lady from the aisle picked it up and said,” yeah, that’s the money I gave you” I transitioned the money from her to the cashier and said thank you to the both of them and donated my $20.
“Here you go. Send me a painting.” she said as she placed her work card in my hand.
“Ok, sure thing!” I grabbed my bag and headed towards the door. That’s when I thought to give her my business card. I asked my friend where she went and I followed where he pointed.
I ran all over the store and apparently we kept “missing” each other. She was nowhere in there. I looked at her card and read that her name was Kathy.
I went outside and caught up with my friend.
We hung out for a couple hours and went our separate ways. I got home and was still in awe of the generosity that was bestowed upon me. That has never happened before to me. I mean, she had no clue that I was an artist for a living or if I was even any good at painting. I wanted to email her a thank you letter right away and share how much what she did today meant to me.
I reached in my pocket to grab the card and… It wasn’t there. I checked my bag, my jacket, the car; I even called my friend I was hanging out with. It vanished. I became furious! I was throwing stuff, kicking crap, and cussing out any inanimate object that could have played a role in is ugly magic trick. As time passed I became really sad. I was upset that I managed to bring home hundreds on people’s business cards that were filled with self-interest BUT the one person that did something kind for me and who’s only concern was to see the result; I lost THEIR information. Wow! Nice going, Vincent.
It took me a few hours to get out of this funk. But after thinking on it and talking about it a bit. I had to change my view on the situation. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. (no matter how many episodes of jersey shore there are. ) Kathy just came across as such a loving person. The small time I interacted with her felt like I was somewhere else, it was pure. Her disappearing act feed my family’s suspicion that angels physically meddle in human affairs. (a belief that I don’t completely rule out) But I left the encounter with this; Kathy is a nice person that I may never meet again. I hope I do with all of my heart, but if I don’t? That’s life. The purpose of what Kathy did was for me to pass her kindness along. Perhaps we’re all just people that have potential to be an angel to another person. Each one of us can be a “Kathy” to someone else in our own unique way.
I want to take this time to formally thank Ms. Kathy (that is the director at a company or organization based in Atlanta, GA. which is all I can remember from the card) …for the lesson you taught me. <3
~Vincent Wolf
