Vincent van Gogh | Oleanders | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org)
Postcard Story – Oleanders – Vincent van Gogh – 1888 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Sister – 03/28/22
… and when the eyesight dims, and the steps slow, and with the hearing now, not everything is heard, if there is a blessing with everything that seems diminished, perhaps it is that one must pause longer to behold and understand, that one cannot hurry by, and that the hearing all around, the noise, yes, that is what it is, is lessened and less distracting and less bothersome, when one must stop to rest along the way, not through exhaustion or tiredness, but just … well, resting is now always part of along the way, for in truth, it is now the way. And so she paused and found a place to sit, to rest, yes, but a place from which to focus the eyes, and allow the noise to lessen and fade as the image, the painting, takes hold and begins to deepen and take root within the quietness that is now more at home, much more in residence within the mind and soul than maybe just a few years, or months, or even days before, for even when old, she has found that there is still growth and learning and even joy and peace – an eternal cup of tea – yes, perhaps, in now having the time, the years enforcing the time, to pause, and behold and take in without the comments and opinions and criticisms of others, however kindly the intentions their noise, but to just sit and watch a sunset, or a child playing on a swing, or here now quietly contemplating the painting, a van Gogh no less, who painted for himself, especially near his end, for now so apropos, an interesting word now to use at her age, but seemingly right, as just by the sum of her years, she, of course now is approaching her end also.
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