Auld Lang Syne, 2007
Oil on linen, 2' x 2'
December 31, 2006, We spent our first Christmas in Cape May decorating, cooking, celebrating with our grown kids and leaving a few days after Christmas to tidy up and plan our New Year’s Eve celebration. Unexpectedly, right after Christmas we got the call to come home to Mississippi as Mama had been admitted to the hospital in critical condition. We dropped everything and made the long drive. We arrived a couple days later to see she had declined significantly and it became an intense poignant time -- one of reflection -- knowing she would not be with us long. Everyday was filled with more stress than we expected, struggling along with our family to make the best decisions we could for her care. We spent the week at her bedside, joined each day by my sister-in-law Karen and my brother Ken. My brother Wayne and his wife Margaret and grandchildren. Extended family and close friends made their way to say their goodbyes. There were moments that were sad, some funny, all intense. We retreated each weary evening to our dear friend Alice’s home to sleep, rest and mourn the inevitable. Alice wanted to provide comfort to us and so she did. She prepared a special New Year’s Eve dinner with a beautiful table and wonderful food, starting off with a plate of canapés. We rang the new year in with joy and sadness all rolled together. Once again we realized we were blessed in so many ways. We didn’t know at the time this would be the culminating painting of the 2’ square series of the past four years. It was an ending and a beginning in more ways that one as we said goodbye to Mama a few weeks later and returned to our new life in Cape May. Sandra Bloodworth
Oil on linen, 2' x 2'
December 31, 2006, We spent our first Christmas in Cape May decorating, cooking, celebrating with our grown kids and leaving a few days after Christmas to tidy up and plan our New Year’s Eve celebration. Unexpectedly, right after Christmas we got the call to come home to Mississippi as Mama had been admitted to the hospital in critical condition. We dropped everything and made the long drive. We arrived a couple days later to see she had declined significantly and it became an intense poignant time -- one of reflection -- knowing she would not be with us long. Everyday was filled with more stress than we expected, struggling along with our family to make the best decisions we could for her care. We spent the week at her bedside, joined each day by my sister-in-law Karen and my brother Ken. My brother Wayne and his wife Margaret and grandchildren. Extended family and close friends made their way to say their goodbyes. There were moments that were sad, some funny, all intense. We retreated each weary evening to our dear friend Alice’s home to sleep, rest and mourn the inevitable. Alice wanted to provide comfort to us and so she did. She prepared a special New Year’s Eve dinner with a beautiful table and wonderful food, starting off with a plate of canapés. We rang the new year in with joy and sadness all rolled together. Once again we realized we were blessed in so many ways. We didn’t know at the time this would be the culminating painting of the 2’ square series of the past four years. It was an ending and a beginning in more ways that one as we said goodbye to Mama a few weeks later and returned to our new life in Cape May. Sandra Bloodworth