I made this embroidered drawing last November from a favorite old photo of my Aunt Zona and Uncle Mike, the original drawing was finished about 6 months after my aunt passed away in the summer of ‘08.  It is now a little pillow that I will be gifting to my cousin Sheilah.  Aunt Zona gave me my first job as the Saturday morning receptionist at her hair salon; Sheilah became a hairdresser shortly thereafter, and the two of them worked together until my aunt was too sick, in about ‘07, to work any longer.  Finally finishing this project has helped me let Aunt Zona rest in my memory.  However, she remains alive in my own daily endeavors to be kind-hearted and loving like her.  Her spirit made a room glow.

Goodbye, Aunt Zona.  I love you and I miss you.

XO,

Tyler

Footnote: Almost a year to the date of this post my Uncle Mike told me that, for him, time has stood still since he lost Zona.  Love motivates profound and deep emotions and alters one’s perception of time and space; it is so powerful and breath-taking to witness and experience.