Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 147

Sketch Baby Squirrel

One of the closest people in this world to Ashley and I, and a brilliant Renaissance Woman, Brittany Potter took an incredible photo of some baby squirrels. I made the sketch based on those photos.

Sketch Angela Lansbury

A pencil sketch of Angela Lansbury from a photo someone took a few years ago. My Mom and I loved watching her years ago on Murder She Wrote.

The Eyes Of The Sea

We hope you enjoy this short story about a sailor, the sea, and never counting out someone because of their age, and circumstances. Sometimes, it’s those very events, that make them invaluable.

Kirk was his name, the old sailor. He had spent most of his life on the sea. Now, his eyes were clear, but his hands were sore. He walked with a limp, from an accident at sea that should have taken his life. His back was bent, and he stooped a little.

Yet you’d make a mistake if you thought his strength was gone. That’s what the shipping company had said twenty years ago at 62. “You’re washed up old man, go home, there’s only one way you’ll return to the sea.”

Kirk didn’t get angry, nor did he argue, but he knew better. He knew that his family needed him. So he went home, and helped his wife, his son and daughter in law, as they raised their children. His son worked hard on the docks, but there was not much money to be had in shipping in those days.

So Kirk took a job as a Lighthouse Keeper. They let him hire his son as his alternate, and the family moved back to the sea. This time, Kirk stood, not on the bridge of a ship, but on the terrace of the Lighthouse.

His eyes were clear, and Kirk could read the sea. He taught his son to read it too. For the next twenty years, they lived at the Lighthouse. Kirk, his wife, his son, his wife, and their four children. Kirk taught all of his grandchildren to read the sea.

Now, the head of the company who owned the Lighthouse had retired. His son was now in charge. Everyone expected that, they would send ‘Ole Kirk” off to die. Everyone but Kirk that is. You see, Kirk could read the sea, and he had taught others to read the sea.

This included his grandson’s best friend, the new owner of the Lighthouse. Without any selfish intent, Kirk had taught his grandchildren, and all who wanted to learn, what he knew. Know, it had brought him a full catch, the young man came out to the Lighthouse to see him.

“Captain, I’d like to thank you for all you’ve taught me, and I’d like you to go on teaching. I would like your son to take over as the head Lighthouse keeper, and his son to be his alternate. I just think you’ll be too busy, if you like my offer.”

The young man felt that his children, and those that came after, needed Kirk and what he knew. This wasn’t just a gesture, and the old man knew it. The young man wanted to establish a school, about the ways, and waves of the sea. It was a fishing town, this would be good for the town.

“We can either put it at the harbor, or we can build it here on the island. It just depends on where you want to teach really. Which will it be Captain?”.

“Let’s build it on shore. I’ll teach them how to read the sea. Then at the end of each course, we’ll ride a boat out to the Lighthouse. Between the shore and the Lighthouse, they’ll learn to read the sea. Getting your sea legs as they used to say, isn’t nearly as important as having eyes that can read the sea.”

Kirk’s answer, surprised the young man at first. Until he realized what the old Captain was doing, and smiled at his plan. They built it strong and quick, and Kirk started training young people with strong hands, backs to carry tackle, stout legs, and keen eyes.

Kirk knew what he was talking about, and taught groups of kids that went on to serve the fishing community there for generations. At ninety two, he finally retired, but he didn’t completely stop. Last I heard, he was sailing ships in bottles to visitors of the village, in a shop called, The Eyes Of The Sea.”

Happy Labor Day

Psalms 128:1-2 (ESV)

1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Today is Labor Day. It will be a day filled with activity, hamburgers, hot dogs, desserts, and games. Most of all, it will be filled with time spent with loved ones.

There is always work to do, and that is a wonderful thing. The ability to work is a blessing I do not take lightly. I remember a time when that was not the case.

Celebrations and holidays are opportunities to pause. Being grateful, spending a few hours with loved ones, and catching our breath. Time to enjoy our blessings, is truly a special gift.

Happy Labor Day to all that are weary, worn, or restless. May you have a wonderful holiday. May it be a day of reaping the rewards of your labors.

Sketch Jeanne Robertson

My family spent many a night listening to the clean and hilarious Humorist Jeanne Robertson. She passed recently, and millions will miss her.

Sketch Willard Scott

Remembering a wonderful part of my childhood, Willard Scott.

Sketch Tommy Lee Jones

A quick sketch of Tommy Lee Jones.

iPainting Durante

It seemed like a Durante type of day today.

Sketch Freddie

I still love watching Red Skelton as Freddie the Freeloader. This is a quick pencil sketch of Freddie.

Dates And Blueberry Popsicles

A date, that’s all that connects the birth of the last Queen of Hawaii with Terry Bradshaw, Keanu Reeves, and the US Department of The Treasury. Each occurred on a September 2 in history. Holidays are even shared, ranging from Democracy Day for one country, and National Blueberry Popsicle Day for another.

When you think about it, a date is all that connects two people who end up married with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. That one date, that first meeting, that can spark a lifetime. All because of a date.

I can tell you the date of certain special events in my life, and elaborate, but instead I’ll simply say this. Some days we will always remember, others are forgotten almost as soon as they’re over. The events I mentioned above, seemed important enough to someone, to write them down. They marked their moment, but they were remembered by future generations, because someone else recorded them.

As the parents of a two year old, who seems to grow leaps and bounds in a day, we are trying to mark the moments. We won’t get them all I’m sure, even though we have thousands of pictures. The pictures are landmarks, for Nicholas and for us.

Two dear friends of mine, taught me the importance of this, not only of taking the pictures, but of rehearsing them in memory. Because of Pastor Denny Livingston and Lucian Linkous, I try to review the photos from that day in the past. They taught me that remembering reminds us how special moments are, and helps to remember in a busy world, to treasure them.

When you look up the date on your phone, watch, computer, or physical calendar, can you recall a smile that was born on that day in your life? Maybe a first job, an A+ in school, or even a movie you saw. Smiles don’t grow old, if they’re not forgotten.

Maybe that’s where the National Blueberry Popsicle Day came in, celebrating them on September 2 made someone smile. A cynic would say it was to sell more blueberry popsicles, but even if that were true, it made the family who’s dad makes the popsicle’s smile. It probably made the family of the blueberry farmer smile too. Besides, even a cynic needs a smile, September 2 seems like a good date for that too.