I’m sorry to have to tell you we’ve lost another friend. Joe Downing was an American who’d lived in our village forever and everybody knew and loved him. He was a famous painter—one of only three American artists to have exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris (which is a really big deal, apparently)—but you wouldn’t have guessed that if you’d seen him dressed in his blue dungarees, with an habitual handkerchief tied around his neck, walking one of his beloved puppies. Joe also loved kittens and had armfuls of them living in his garden, which is so high it almost reaches the sky.
Joe’s back was bent by arthritis and he could only walk with the aid of a tall staff, and I sometimes wondered how he was able to get up and down all of the hills in our village, but he did. He never complained—‘Not too bad,’ he would always say when you asked him how he was feeling—and, in fifteen years, my mum and dad never heard him say a bad word about anybody. He was a good, good man and he will be missed as much as he will be remembered.
I’m depressed that 2008 has begun on such a sad note. So, I thought I’d cheer myself up by showing you the latest picture of Grandson Jack and his gorgeous mum, Becc.
Now, you may notice that Jack is wearing what appears to be a dress! Why? Well, apparently, Jack was taken to a church to be baptised (whatever that might mean) and, when that happens, little boys are made to wear dresses and have their picture taken—so they can be thoroughly embarrassed when they grow up, no doubt.
Aren’t humans weird?
HAPPY NEW YEAR, everybody, from Me and My Kittens! My dad says that should be ‘my kittens and I’—but who’s writing this blog? Whatever… The point is, we—Savannah, Georgia, Rabbit, Sooty and me—hope that 2008 brings you everything you wish for.
Joe’s back was bent by arthritis and he could only walk with the aid of a tall staff, and I sometimes wondered how he was able to get up and down all of the hills in our village, but he did. He never complained—‘Not too bad,’ he would always say when you asked him how he was feeling—and, in fifteen years, my mum and dad never heard him say a bad word about anybody. He was a good, good man and he will be missed as much as he will be remembered.
I’m depressed that 2008 has begun on such a sad note. So, I thought I’d cheer myself up by showing you the latest picture of Grandson Jack and his gorgeous mum, Becc.
Now, you may notice that Jack is wearing what appears to be a dress! Why? Well, apparently, Jack was taken to a church to be baptised (whatever that might mean) and, when that happens, little boys are made to wear dresses and have their picture taken—so they can be thoroughly embarrassed when they grow up, no doubt.Aren’t humans weird?
HAPPY NEW YEAR, everybody, from Me and My Kittens! My dad says that should be ‘my kittens and I’—but who’s writing this blog? Whatever… The point is, we—Savannah, Georgia, Rabbit, Sooty and me—hope that 2008 brings you everything you wish for.
1 comment:
I am from Kentucky (in the USA). I grew up across the road from where Joe D was raised. I have been life long friends with some of Joe's relatives that still live around here. I have always enjoyed hearing the stories of a lone KY boy moving to France and becoming a famous artist. I have seen some of his works (that belong to some of his family) and they are beautiful. I would love to own some of his work. I was making plans to attend an art exhibit featuring Joe, to be held in Bowling Green KY. But unfortunately Joe passed and the exhibit was held anyway as more of a tribute to his legacy. I feel like I miss him, even though we never met. I guess more than anything else, I miss not ever having the chance to get to know such a nice and influential man.
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