Safe Place to Land
Months ago I was invited to do a painting for a group show based on the theme “Women Holding Things.” There was a book by Maira Kalman all about the ways women do the quiet, constant work of holding—responsibilities, memories, relationships, love— so many things. I’ve been pondering the idea this whole time, and it’s such a challenge to only have one painting to say everything you want to say. In the end, the idea that kept coming back to me was the safe places we hold for each other.
The feeling my kids get when they walk in the door and drop their heavy backpacks and then hand me their heavy hearts. The feeling I get after a lunch with women I love where we laughed and cried and commiserated and GOT each other and I feel lighter and less alone. The feeling when I talk to my parents and can emotionally crawl in their laps for a minute and let them be the adults while I’m the kid again, absorbing their wisdom, friendship & love. The constant-stream conversation with my husband throughout the day over texts, phone calls, face times, in person chats when we’re both home, side by side chats while we watch our kids games, across the table chats at dinner, walking chats around our neighborhood, winking looks/expressions across so many rooms, and then more late night final chats as we brush our teeth and head to bed every night.
We land somewhere solid, find our footing, feel that secure grounding underneath us and feel safe enough to recharge. It allows us rest. And because of that, we gain energy to spread our wings and take off again, reaching our potential, climbing to greater heights, having new adventures. I don’t think we’re meant to stay grounded permanently. We soar because we have safe spaces—sure landing places—that are always ready and waiting to refuel us so we can continue to fly. Sometimes we’re the plane and sometimes we’re the airport. Either way, it’s love.
[“Safe Place to Land” 24x30, available THIS FRIDAY 3/20 at the opening of the “Women Holding Things” Show at @fourlemonsart, 6-9:00 pm, 4850 S. Highland Dr, Holladay, UT] Join us!!
