Art is amazing! It has made my life so much better. Let me explain.
My younger brother is visiting with his son and my mother. My brother was the first love of my life. He has brought me so much joy and he has also brought me immeasurable pain. He is a recovering heroin addict. My brother can have long conversations with you about anything drug or prison related, but when it comes to the “arts” he doesn’t have much to say.
This visit has been wonderful because my brother has been clean for some time and he is now a devoted father. I work at a museum and he asked me to take him and his son.
The exhibit we saw is “Warhol Live”. Now you don’t have to know much about art to know who Andy Warhol is, but my brother had never heard of Andy Warhol. Until today.
For us to be able to walk through a museum together and enjoy each other’s company and share an experience that isn’t about “our” past is amazing. We get to know each other in a different way and find out what appeals to us. I love how open minded he is about what he sees and I love to hear how he interprets what he sees.
We’ve had so many moments like this. I act and he started going to plays because I was in them, but now he can sit through a play without thinking it’s weird or feeling uncomfortable.
One of the nicest things my brother has ever said to me is, “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have art in my life.”
That is so sweet. Happy Mother’s Day Unknown Mami!
🙂
That’s very moving. I was a junky for about 7 years. I’ll be 8 years clean this October. Your brother is lucky to have you. My family has been a saving grace for me. To tell you the truth, I don’t know what it is that keeps me clean, I just know that I never want to go back. Your post reminded me how fortunate I am to have my family back in my life… and how great it is to live in a world so full of Art (which I tend to consume now much like the addict I am). Thanks for the post.