In late May 2015, I met a young girl who made a deep impression on me for many reasons. I was standing next to my display at my very first art show at Vienna, Virginia’s historic Freeman Store.
A woman approached and said, “My daughter would like to meet the artist.”
I wanted to be helpful, so I looked around for an artist to talk to her daughter. The woman said, “Didn’t you take these photographs?”
“Well yes, I guess I did!” I replied. I managed to contain the rest of the words that almost spilled out: “But I’m not an artist.”
“Artist” had never been a label I attached to myself. I was still attached to my economist identity, still surprised by the Freeman Store’s invitation after seeing my social media postings of my photo-a-day for a year challenge.
I filed those thoughts away for later contemplation and turned my attention toward a young girl with the most spectacular blue (perhaps even periwinkle?) eyes. She approached shyly and told me how much she loved my flower images. The girl had such a magical energy about her, I was entranced. I asked her if she “too” was an artist.
“Yes,” she said. “And I find a lot of four-leaf clovers.”
“Really?” I asked, as my memory wandered back to long lazy afternoons looking for four-leaf clovers in my own childhood. I recalled finding a few over the years, but couldn’t think of a time when my boys had found one.
Just as I was thinking, Maybe if they had slowed down long enough… her mother said, “She even found one on a soccer field.”
“On the sidelines?” I asked.
“No, on the field. I was running and I just looked down and saw it there,” the girl reported matter-of-factly.
I was still at the height of my travel soccer mom chapter during that conversation. I couldn’t help thinking, How could you be looking for the ball if you were noticing four-leaf clovers? But again, I managed to keep that thought buttoned up. It seemed to be no big deal to this girl to run AND spot that tiny, elusive harbinger of luck.
I have been on the lookout for four-leaf clovers ever since, to no avail. With each failed attempt, my admiration for my blue-eyed, artist-naming, lucky clover-finding friend grew stronger.
Finally, while walking Apollo a few days ago, I saw a patch of clover on the outskirts of the woods we visit frequently. I crouched down over an ocean of Trifolium repens, the magical girl appearing in my mind’s eye as she always does when I’m in the company of clover.
Three, three, three, three. . . wait. . . could it be????….Yes! SUCCESS! I actually squealed with delight when I confirmed that fourth leaf in the sea of threes.
How I wished in that moment that I could share my find with my young friend, who by now is probably in high school. I don’t know her name. I don’t know her mother’s name. But on the slight chance that this blog post reaches you, Mom of blue-eyed girl, please share it with your very special daughter! I would love to know where life has taken her these past few years and in which direction she’s headed.
If you DO receive this message, dear young friend, I want you to know that I now describe myself as an artist with ease. I think of you often with gratitude for helping me let go of my fear. Know that you have stayed with me and have continued to inspire, mostly recently as I stopped to search for lucky treasure in a patch of clover. My wish for you is that you live fearlessly as well, embracing all the facets of your true essence.
And with that, I’m happy to share the final installment of my #MarthasMayPhotoChallenge images. Thank you to those of you who have let me know your favorites from Part 1 and Part 2 of this May Photo Challenge Report series. I look forward to your thoughts on this last batch!
Days 21-31 Of My 2019 May Photo Challenge
I’ll be adding some of these images to my collection at damselwingsphotography.com. Let me know your favorites to help with my decision-making!
