The Value of "Imagineering"....and Mentorship at the highest level !

To dare to dream... to think outside the box... to go where others fear to go..."to Imagineer"!...and to be willing to share your "Light"!

My last post discussed the "possibility" that taking risks and facing new challenges could open doors we could never dream of... if only took courage... and "We" listened to our Inner Self... sacrificed... and trusted that the Universe is indeed a vast and limitless realm where ALL dreams can come true!

Today... my second eldest child Allison Morgan successfully defended her PhD (Art History) dissertation at Cambridge University, England! Henceforth... "I" teased... it will be necessary for "Me" to address "Her" as... Dr. Jemima Puddle Duck. All teasing aside... "I" am so VERY proud of her unique achievement and the "Imagineering" that was involved in her eleven year personal pursuit of excellence... and the continous level of scholarship she maintained to self-fund her goal.

From the time when "She" was just five years old and accompanied "Me"... along with her younger brother Andrew (Andyrewster)... on plein air painting forays and "go to shallow waters"... (minnowing and frogging... "She" fiercely maintained that:"She" was going to be an artist when she grew up"! Both she and Andrew are indeed fine artists in their own right.... having painted with me on many, many occasions right into their teens and high school. They shared my dream and journey... but both had their own dreams... and both, I am proud to say... are well on their way to achieving them.

In accomplishing her own dream... "She" brings great honour to her beautiful Self... to her Sherman Family (particularly her Mother who has been her guiding light)... to the memory of her two marvelous and enabling mentors Ms. Ann Stevenson... her Grade Six Teacher and her high school art teacher Berkley Brean. Sadly... neither is here to bear witness to and share this proud and joyful moment with "Her". Their unselfish and unconditional "gifts" of their time and counsel exist... and will be "passed forward"... well beyond their earthly days by the equally capable and committed actions and contributions that Allison will "create".... and "imagineer" to prepare her own charges for the world they must live in.

I take time away from my usual "Art Talk" today... though both are strongly related to share this event in our Family life with my readers. I do so, to acknowledge the importance of the presence of family in the holistic "picture" of a successful and healthy creative journey. I can't imagine any personal degree of Happiness or Success without the mention of the presence and and role that all members of my family... my mentors... my Friends and my peers have contributed to make my life productive,full and meaningful.

"I" would suggest to all of my readers that we must always remember... that the greatest gifts that we leave behind are firstly our children to carry forward in our name and on our behalf. Secondly, we leave our accomplishments in the Arts... whether contributed singularly as individuals...or collectively as a culture. Finally... we leave our own kind acts to encourage Love... Honour... Generosity... Fairness... Loyalty... and above all...TRUTH! These are truly Life's "Masterpieces"!!!

In closing this evening... "I" salute "You"... Doctor Allison Morgan Sherman... aka Jemima Puddle Duck not only for your accomplishments in achieving this milestone Doctoral Degree... but as well "I" laud "You" for your diligence... for your loyalty... intellect... and for your Humanity!

"I" wish "You" fair winds, good health and prosperity... wherever Life and The Universe draws "You". Know that "I" am VERY proud of..."You"... and am with "You" ALWAYS!!

"I" would close by repeating Berkley Breene's last mortal words to his family members:

"I" am deeply blessed!

All my love ALWAYS!
Dad XXXXXOOOOOXXXXX

Postscript: The top jpeg was my gift of a "personaized" side table for Allison's undergraduation from Queen's University, Kingston in October, 2002.