Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells (Acrylic on Canvas) June 2025
One of the things I love most about Jeff was his passion for life. He loved trying new things, taking road trips to small towns, trying new food, simply embracing every moment of every day. He also loved being with his family and couldn’t wait for the next family trip. As I grew to love him, I also grew to love his family and looked forward to what were now our family vacations.
In the summer of 2023, the family decided to go to Wisconsin Dells, which was somewhat comical to me as there are very few young children in Jeff’s family. The trip was amazing; we went to water parks, went out to nice dinners, played games, all of the things that families do. It reminded me of what it is like to be carefree, to be a child again. Jeff had a way of bringing that out in me. Had I known that two years later my beautiful Jeffrey wouldn’t be here anymore, I would have taken a thousand more trips with him just like that. I would have done a lot of things differently, but I suppose that most people feel that way when they have lost their life partners so suddenly and so tragically.
One thing that I didn’t notice about Wisconsin Dells as a child that I noticed when I returned as an adult, is the natural beauty that surrounded us. This painting was created from a photo that I took on our trip. Jeff and I walked on this bridge more than once, and now more than ever, every moment of that family vacation holds a special place in my heart.
If you are experiencing grief and loss, one thing that I do every day is I write a little note to Jeff. It’s not long and it’s usually before I (try to) go to sleep each night. It helps me to feel closer to him and somehow, I know he is listening. Sometimes it’s a memory that I have of us, sometimes it’s how I am feeling, sometimes it’s ranting about all of the things that we will never get to do together…whatever happens to be on my mind in the moment.
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THIS MONTH: Join me at the Water Street Fine Art Show on Sunday, July 13th Water Street Fine Art & Fine Craft Fair - Downtown Naperville Alliance and the Glenview Art League Summer Art Fair on July 19th and 20th Glenview Art League Summer Art Fair 2025, an Art Show in Glenview,…