Comments on: remember.

By: therese

therese — Wed, 30 May 2007 16:11:00 +0000

all right, your going to make me cry. she looks perfect, just like mom! i almost forgot all about Freddy the Freeloader….. do you know how he died? mom put some thingy that was suppose to kill bugs up on the wall right next to the cage. you plugged it in and it made this white fluffy stuff that came out of it…. it was blue.. well poor Freddy, it also killed birds!! good ol mom, she never did like animals! she does look “sweet” penelope, but don’t let that fool you!!! she is one of a kind! Jen, someday I want a copy of this one framed, it’s something i would like to keep and display. love you, aunt therese

By: coloredsock

coloredsock — Thu, 24 May 2007 03:21:00 +0000

Mom, you’re so cool. thanks for your comment. i’m glad you like the illustration of Grandma. although i don’t see her much, i think about her a lot. i know i haven’t been her favorite (hehe) but i still have so much love and respect for her.

you are the best mom EVER, in case i haven’t told you…

By: Jen's mom

Jen's mom — Wed, 23 May 2007 19:35:00 +0000

Since she is MY mom, let me say I think you have captured her enigmatic personality to a T. She’s not your everday grandma for sure and I see forgetfullness and some weariness of life around her in your painting. I love you even more Jen. Thanks for making mom “just right”

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 09 May 2007 21:15:00 +0000

It’s a beautiful and touching illustration.

Someone in the post office today was sending a nice package to her Mother. The postman made a comment about it not getting there in time and she said “well, she has alzheimer’s. She’ probably doesn’t even know it’s Mother’s Day..I’ll be lucky if she knows it’s from me.” She smiled and laughed but I just knew that her heart was hurting.

Hugs to you.

By: coloredsock

coloredsock — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:34:00 +0000

hey jim, thanks for your comments. i do like how the first line is ‘different’ from the handwritten, just didn’t know if that type was best or distracting…and what you said about presenting a moment without judgment or intruding, i’m happy you felt that.

my writer friend/teacher just suggested this, “to add the words “before I was born” after 1961 (with a comma after 1961), to hint at the circularity of life and death; how young and astute you are, how old and senile she’s becoming…”

i thought that was a great suggestion…

By: Jas P.

Jas P. — Wed, 09 May 2007 14:05:00 +0000

I actually like the mix of typography and hand-lettering. The type sort of anchors the paragraph like a headline.

It's a lovely piece of writing, like much of what I've read that you've written. You have a knack for presenting a moment without any judgment intruding, which leaves enough room for feeling to come into the room. Open door writing.

Bravo, Jen.

By: coloredsock

coloredsock — Tue, 08 May 2007 23:06:00 +0000

heya miss penelope. oh i love your name! fun to say and write…

thanks for your thoughts! i was also wondering about that first line of type…if it worked or not. i think you are right. also, i think the only time i can remember my grandma wearing a pretty dress is at someone’s wedding…and she used to be a “queen crochet-ER”.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 08 May 2007 22:54:00 +0000

oops. That above comment was me: penelope…

I’m 0 for 2 today!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 08 May 2007 22:53:00 +0000

I love the composition… the color is perfect to get across “sweet grandma” too. But her jeans and red sweatshirt bring it more down to reality in my mind… it’s telling of what the story says. If it were a different grandma I would think of her instead wearing something like a pretty dress or a cardigan. I don’t know if that makes sense. I’m saying that I like your choice here… (sheesh… takes me a while to get it out! hee!)

I like your handwriting at the top too… not sure about the typeset of the first line.. it was a little bit of a disconnect for me. I think it would be prettier if it were a bit more of your writing (only bigger maybe)… but that’s just cause you asked that I critique with a critical eye.

I think it looks wonderful, miss.