My studio is almost finished

Dennis is putting in the water heater and linen closet this week along with a small AC/Heater unit. Then “She” will be done and ready for some guest.

I have designated one wall in the studio for my vinyl.

Right now all my vinyl is in my washroom along with my cutter. It is a real hassle. Every time I want to cut something out I have to unpack the cutter and find the vinyl. So, I am cleaning it up and moving it out.

While going through this process,

I came across a little sculpture of two Love Birds sitting on a branch. Poof…… I am transported back to the 4^th grade and straight in front of Mrs. Hamills house knocking on the door.

To tell you the truth

I don’t remember who introduced me to her or how I ended up at her house. Mrs. Hamill was in her 70”s. She lived with her brother. As a kid, we were not allowed to call our elders by their first name so I don’t even remember that. I do remember that her family owned and ran Kleypas Monuments, in San Antonio. He, her brother, did hand carved medallions for furniture and she made little sculptures out of Play Dough. She gave me a little teddy bear and then said, “If you come back sometime I will give you another one.”

And so I did…

She and I became fast friends. She taught me how to play double solitary. She would make me a snack consisting of peanut butter and Ritz crackers and we would visit and play cards. Then, shortly after lunch, she would send me home so she could take a nap. At the end of the afternoon, she would ask, “Are you coming tomorrow?”

All summer

I spent my free days at her house. She would show me her new sculptures and I would listen to her tell me how she made them. She would explain how she used a toothpick to put texture in bodies of the bears and how she painted their eyes with a paintbrush and when she was done they got a coat of varnish so they shined. She loved what she did and she loved sharing her creations with all the kids in the neighborhood.

Then one day,

I went to visit her and she told me to “GO AWAY” and “DON’T COME BACK.” I couldn’t figure it out. We were friends. I spent my entire summer with her. I went home and cried to my mom. “Mom WHY would Mrs. Hamill tell me to go away?” Mom didn’t have any answers for me. I did go by her house a couple times after that but…. she didn’t answer the door. My heart was BROKEN.

A few weeks ago

I talked to my dear friend Caroline about Mrs. Hamill because I remembered seeing her parent’s minister to Mrs. Hamill and her brother. And, from what I understood from our conversation… Mrs. Hamill had dementia or Alzheimer’s.

As I look back,

only fond memories of her come to mind.  She is one of those people who left a huge footprint on my heart. I didn’t understand then and I really don’t understand now why she shut me out.

What I can say is that,

I am GLAD and THANKFUL that she let me in at all. That was one of the best summers in my memory. She was my 70 something year old friend. I use to have a shelf full of teddy bears, bunnies and birds in every color Play Dough made but with time and moving and life this little sculpture is all that remains.

Mrs. Hamill…

you have made an impression on my heart… you were “MY” Play Dough artist, snack maker, and friend.