|
 Uncle
Dennis was a man who was either completely hated or dearly loved. There
was no in between for him. I loved him. All the hard times we went through
with Rhonda's Cerebral Palsy saw him by my side, not for days, or months
but for years. We walked through every zoo, every museum, down town shops,
through Rhonda's therapy. The entertainment was supposed to be for her,
but in actuality it was really for me. He kept my mind away from despair.
His steady way kept me from sorrow. I believe this kept my marriage
together because I wasn't overcome with grief. So many of the families who
had to deal with a handicap were around us and in therapy too with their
children. Eventually some were divorced. This only added to and compounded
the problem for the child.
Uncle Dennis had been a
gentleman all his life. He was accustomed to having his own time. This
gave him, and me, the advantage of being able to govern our own pursuits.
He chose to spend this time with Rhonda and I, and he did just that. We
saw the sites, art museums, and zoo over and over in Oklahoma City, the
little town of Norman, Oklahoma and later Dallas, Texas. There was never a
running out of things to do in Dallas. Gradually as he aged and wanted to
spend time with his daughter I didn't miss him so much because I had
already been tutored in his lifestyle. This is when I began my studies
more seriously with art. Through this avenue the city of Dallas was opened
up to me and he gave me the background to love that way of life. Learning
to sacrifice one's desire for material things in order to go toward a goal
was planted in my heart. Some may call this a Bohemian lifestyle. If it
was I was never aware of it as such. Once one becomes involved with the
world of art, loneliness and sorrow is like a raging wolf who is held in
the darkness and at bay by the light and beauty of that new world. Uncle
Dennis brought me to this house of dawn and for what more can one ask. |
