One cold night in the fall of 1999, I found my way into deaths embrace. I finally surrendered my control of the steering wheel as the car was spinning into what felt like eternity. Releasing my hands, my physical form and my gravity from the weight of this existence was more blissful than any description of heaven could ever have been articulated. I was weightless, flying and free. I was crying tears over my own death, but they were of pure joy and contentment. In those moments I remembered my life, my family and friends and longed to return and comfort them with this new understanding of death. In that moment my wish was granted. The weight of eternity dropped me down from the highest stretches of my winged flight to the depths of what one might consider hell, only equally words could only fall short of the true description of the discomfort. Eventually my eyes opened to reveal to me my broken blood stained body. Reborn, in the earth’s embrace I was unable to move or tend to my needs. I laid there for 2 days until me body’s longing for water sent me crawling, as best I could, to the edge of the highway to find human comforts. I was on my way to a 6 months physical recovery and was fortunate in having a mother who instinctively knew what might mend my wounds and strengthen my mind and heart, my own creativity. With paint supplies in hand, I have spent the last 13 years painting my promise of describing paradise to all those whose eyes are open to it.
