Mother & Child

---

We hustled down the ramp and onto the plane, our excitement palpable. This was it! Years of working, saving and investing, sacrificing and making do, culminating in this, the beginning of our next chapter.

Early retirement. A dream come true.

Strapping ourselves in, the Captain welcomed us aboard, and gave a report on the weather we could expect when we arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Beautiful Cuenca with it's colonial architecture, perfect temperate climate and culture of such kindness and compassion as to put the rest of the world to shame. 

The plan was to explore first, then buy. This was to be our new home. Bye-Bye Canada, Hello South America! God, it was so exhillarating!

The only touch of something not quite right was the fact that for the first time in almost 28 years we were on our own. Our kids, our grown adult children were still back in Canada. To be fair, it made sense. They weren't retiring. But when you've spent your life surrounded by the hugs and affection of two of your own, to be without them, I was quite suddenly bereft. 

It was good though, I knew. We each needed to spread our wings, 

I think that's one of the toughtest things about motherhood. Trusting that you've done a good job.  Good enough for them to soar knowing they no longer need you, and good enough to let them go. 

Sitting with my chair in the upright position and my tray table stowed it did feel like their cosmic energetic tentacles were reaching up to pluck me from the sky. Damn how I already missed them!

"Mother & Child" is made up of two canvases, the mother on the left with her all seeing eye, and the child on the right, a part of her, but still uniquely their own. Forever together regardless of separation.

2 x 80cm x 60cm 

Acrylic on Canvas