Thursday, July 21, 2016

Yellow VW Beetle

Everybody has a VW story in their lives, right?  My best friend in high school had a candy-apple red one. Oh my, we had good times in that car.  That's probably why I drive a red Beetle now.  I love my bug and painted it once as kind of a self portrait.

This little yellow Beetle belonged to my friend, Nancy.  Her mother brought it brand new in 1970 and drove it for the rest of her life.  Then Nancy drove it until just this year when she passed it on to another family member. Lots of memories there... still there... only with a little painting on the wall instead of a little car (without good heat, air, or radio) in the driveway.


That's Nancy's story of the car, but let me tell you MY story of Nancy.  32 years ago, I was a 5 foot 0 inch, 105 pound, bright eyed 20 year old who thought I wanted to be a teacher.  I was assigned to spend 9 weeks as a student teacher in her 4th grade classroom.  On my very first day she said, "We've been reading this book, The B.F.G. Why don't you take over." That was my first time ever in front of a class of 4th graders... and I've been there... hmmm...  (178 days x 31 years) ... my goodness... over 5,500 days since.  
Over the course of time, we lost touch but then re-found each other when she saw and liked some of my paintings in a shop here in town.

Thank you, Nancy. Thank you for getting me started on this life of reading and writing with 10 year olds.

Original Oil Painting - 8"x 10"
[SOLD]

7 comments:

  1. Thank you, Helen! I love the painting of the little yellow bug! It is special because it belonged to my mother. It is special because it is so well done. It is special because YOU painted it. It is hanging in our bedroom. My desk and working spot is there so I can look at it many times each day.

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    1. It was a pleasure to paint it. It makes me smile to know you love it.

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  2. What a great story and a great painting! Thank you for sharing this with us.

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    2. Thanks! I love sharing the stories behind the images!

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  3. Memories, the fabric of our lives. Know you love your VWs, they just don't make them like they used to. I think if you were adult in the 60's or 70's you had a Beetle, mine was beige and we ran the wheels of of it. Thanks for bringing a tug back for a good memory.

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    1. I love it! Yes! We should have a "challenge" where everyone shares their VW story. My friend had a tootsie roll shaped piggy bank in hers. When anyone rode with her/us, we make them put in some coins (for gas money). ha ha ha... I'd forgotten about that!

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