Our family didn't go to Yellowstone to see moose, specifically. We went for the scenery, and we did want to see as much wildlife as possible. One afternoon, we settled into a nice spot in the shadow of the Grand Tetons called Schwabacher Landing, and waited for moose. We'd heard the odds of seeing them there were good. Very quietly, we waited, and waited, and waited. It felt like any moment one might emerge from the brush to steal a drink from the pond. We sat for two hours before admitting defeat and heading back to the hotel, disappointed. The next day, while in Jackson, we wandered …
Big & Grand
Everything that exists first started as an idea. A vision. A dream. The question is, How many people have to see it before it becomes reality? On a family trip west, we spent time in the foothills of the Grand Tetons hoping to see moose. We didn't have any luck, but while we were waiting, I snapped a photo of my youngest daughter sitting at the edge of the pond, tossing pebbles into the water. I thought it might be the start of a great painting. The only question in my mind was, "What might she be looking at?" I imagined painting a moose into the scene, maybe a huge one. I thought …
Bantha Crossing
Kim and I grew up in small towns. Occasionally, a train would pass through, blocking a road and putting traffic at a standstill. This was incredibly inconvenient when you were already running five minutes late. Sometimes you could backtrack and take an alternative route, but most of the time you had no choice but to wait. And wait. And wait. It's one of the most annoying things ever. Not once did I ever see anyone take a photo of the train. Things work differently in Yellowstone National Park. People get super excited about traffic stoppages. You might even say they hope for …
Reality Check
The Grand Prismatic is one of the things I was most looking forward to seeing on our family trip to Yellowstone National Park. It's like I had to see it to believe it was real. This is not an uncommon sentiment when it comes to this magical place. The early explorers who came back with stories from Yellowstone were written off as crazy people. Surely a loose screw, an overindulgence in booze, or insanity caused by being alone for too long was easier to believe than the tall tales that returned. Upside-down waterfalls? Boiling rivers? Bubbling mud? Twenty-foot beasts? Please. Well, …
Lessons from Wondernite
Our fifth Wondernite is in the books. Between that and the Wonder & Whimsy Society Family Reunion we hosted in our backyard the day after, I'm still in introvert recharge mode. I recently discovered that as an Enneagram 5 wing 4, my internal battery is like that of a ten-year-old smartphone: it's not capable of ever achieving a full charge, and it drains really fast, especially if it's doing processor-intensive tasks, like streaming video, or, you know, hosting back-to-back live events with hundreds of people. This week I thought I'd share some thoughts and lessons …
How Many Crayons?
How many crayons do you need to make a masterpiece? If you are judging by how many they give you with the kid's menu at a restaurant, apparently the answer is often...two. Back in the day, a box of 64 Crayola crayons — complete with a sharpener in the back — was as valuable as anything on earth. It contained every color known to mankind (who even knew there was such a color as periwinkle?!), including silver and gold, which I'm convinced was made with real bits of the precious metals. A box of 64 crayons turned anyone into an artist. Everything was possible; there was nothing you …
The Silly Things We Believe
Where does strawberry milk come from? Pink cows, of course. It's a silly thing that some children believe; something grandparents tell grandchildren when pulling their leg. I created this painting for an art fair we exhibited at in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a land filled with dairy cows. I was pleased that so many people who saw it got the joke, reminiscing nostalgically about the "fact" that strawberry milk comes from pink cows. Part of the humor comes from considering the silly logic of children, and the outlandish things they are prone to believe. I, for one, used to believe I was …
Waiting for Answers
Have you ever texted someone a question and then those three little dots pop up as they formulate their reply? You know the three dots. Depending on how consequential their response is, that delay can feel like an eternity, right? We want answers now, but sometimes they take a while to come. From the very beginning of our relationship, Kim and I talked about living in a lake home one day, surrounded by tall pine trees. It took over twenty years to come true, which was approximately nineteen more than I expected. Over that prolongated waiting period, I asked God what was …
Alligators & Adultitis: Why We Need More Laughter in Life
An alligator can live up to 100 years... which is why there's an increased chance they will see you later. One of the midwives who helped Kim on her journey into motherhood had experience working with the Navajo people. She told us about a custom of theirs in which the first person to make a newborn laugh is obligated to throw the family a huge party to celebrate the occasion. According to their tradition, it’s considered the moment in which the baby is fully present and “in the world.” I think that’s pretty cool. You often see people rejoicing over baby’s first words, first steps, …
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Good Tidings or Dark Intentions?
Quick! You're on the beach with a friend and you spot something approaching on the horizon. To your amazement, you make out an armada of giant rubber ducks coming to shore. What is your reaction? Are you excited? Overjoyed? Concerned? Skeptical? Worried? Afraid? Are they visitors or invaders? Do they bring good tidings or dark intentions? Sometimes a painting can just be a fun picture that makes you smile. And sometimes it contains a deeper meaning. I asked people on social media to share their perceptions of this painting, and it may or may not surprise you that their responses …