Thursday, May 14, 2009

My Mother's Day Wish

  "Door to Granny's Cottage" acrylic on canvas, 5x7, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering
When I was a child both of my Grandmother's had cottages in beach communities. I absolutely loved visiting them. I adored the freedom of the indoor and outdoor blending together... Early morning walks, evenings on the porch or in the yard, kids free to roam, screen door banging as we ran in and out. I was inspired by those memories to create this painting, and enjoyed the thoughts of my grandmothers and mother as I painted.

I think of my mother and grandmothers often, and always feel their absence on mother's day. I lost my mother and maternal grandmother to stomach cancer. My Grandmother was 64, my Mother was just 48.  Did they have celiac disease?  We will never know, but it is my guess.

My Mother's Day wish is for greater awareness and understanding of celiac disease in the general population - AND in the medical community.  So every mother (and anyone who has a mother) can live a long, joyful, healthy, vibrant life. 

Happy Mother's Day to all!

4 comments:

Diary of a Madd Weekly Painter said...

Hi Erin, This is a gorgeous, sweet, peaceful painting! You did a great job conjuring up all those memories. I feel the same. I grew up in La. and w/ the fairly consent warm weather, we were in & out of the house all day. I still like to hear screen doors. I can't imagine how it would feel to lose my mom now much less at 48. So sorry.

a kelly said...

I lost a beloved aunt to stomach cancer...she left 4 children under 15. She was 52. I can't help but wonder also about the connection to gluten.
This painting reminds me of our childhood cottage...beautiful!
It makes me think of my own mother with fond memories of summer.
Thank you.

erin rogers pickering said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
erin rogers pickering said...

Thank you Sue and Kelly for your lovely heart-felt comments.