30 Days of Creativity 2011, Day 30

This is it–my last post for 2011’s 30 Days of Creativity. I hope you’ve enjoyed some of the things I’ve created. I feel like I did a lot more this year than last year. Once again, I spent several days away from home during the month (last year I was in Arkansas; this year, Houston’s suburbs, which sometimes seem equally as far away), presenting a bit of a creative challenge. Unlike last year, I took a ton of stuff out to Green Acres with me and set up a creativity sweatshop, since it was just me and dogs in the house. Thanks, Lynne, for providing the space. Thanks Sue, Seig, Minute, and Paco for protecting me and keeping me company.

Thanks everyone for all the comments and emails and interest and sometimes assistance. It makes it more fun when people react to whatever crazy thing I create on any given day. Thank you, 30 Days of Creativity, for providing this activity and a place to show our work. I’ve found a lot of new creative people thanks to you!

I have a vivid memory of a road in the small town where my father grew up. It seemed endless to me as a child, that road from my grandfather’s house to the hospital where he spent the last days of his life. I was under the age of permitted visitors, but my mother insisted the rules be broken and I be allowed in to see Papa. My parents knew he didn’t have long to live; he was ninety-six, and his heart was finally wearing out. I was the last grandchild, and I adored him, and my parents always helped me remember stories about how he loved me.

Papa had been mostly non-responsive for a couple of days, but the first evening we made that long drive and went inside his room, my father told him that he and my mother were there. My grandfather stirred; it was as if he’d been waiting for this, his youngest and much loved son to arrive. Then my mother said, “Papa, Becky’s here.” My grandfather turned his head, opened his eyes, and seemed to stare at me. I smiled and waved at him. I don’t know if he could see me, but I’d like to think he did.

One thing I remember about that road in my father’s hometown was the 3M plant. It’s such a small town that any industry was significant–the lifeblood of the community. Decades later, though I’m sure many 3M plants have shut down or relocated, that one is still there. Whenever I see a 3M product, I think of that little town so rich in memories for my family and me. Needless to say, when 3M was generous enough to send some of the 30 Days participants a package full of Scotch products, and I was one of those lucky enough to be on the list, I was thrilled. Scotch asked only that the recipient try to find a way to use the products for the “Plaid”-themed day, which was June 23. Unfortunately, my package didn’t arrive in time.

So I decided to end this month with a reminder that even internationally known companies can mean all the difference in the world to the economy of little towns, and to offer my gratitude to 3M not only as a 30 Days creator, but as the little girl who once noticed the lights of your buildings on a long, dark road.

Repurposed photos, magazine cuttings, gift wrap, and Scotch product packaging in my Paper Doll Homage to Plaid collage.

(Click here to view larger version on black background.)

Free stuff: Amazing!