HOW LUCKY TO BE AN ARTIST For the past couple of summers, I’ve spent most of the days sitting on the porch or beach with various parts of my body in a cast. The first summer, while kicking a ball to my grandson, I slipped, fell backwards like a stone on my wrists. It was Saturday night. As the pain rushed, visions of tennis, swimming, driving and painting, filled my unconscientiousness. Rushing to the emergency room at HUP early in the morning brought everything into focus. I was lucky to find the plastic hand surgeon on call, even though he was coaching his son’s softball game, and, after the traditional x-rays, manipulated my wrist to set and cast. In my garden the Peonys were blooming and the profusion of purple and pink was too tempting to resist. I grabbed my paints and, with my left hand, splashed color all over the paper trying to capture the composition and design of this gift of nature. After a while, I had to stop. The pain in my left wrist was unbearable. There are some people, after seeing the painting, told me to continue using my left hand to paint. Upon another visit to the doctor and radiologist, the crack in my left wrist was found and also cast. For the next two months I managed to draw and photograph the summer beauty . This past summer, after driving through the French countryside, once again visiting Monet’s Garden at Giverny, we ended our voyage in Paris. No longer in the car, we anxiously set out on foot like all tourists, waiting for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa. We hadn’t walked two blocks when I stumbled in front of the Louvre and fell on my foot. Returning home two days later, I greeted the nurses in the ER like old friends. The x ray confirmed the diognosis, and my foot was cast to my knee for 6 weeks. During this time I rented a “Roll a Bout”. This four wheel scooter kept the weight off the foot, saved my arms and gave me mobility. This left my hands free. I COULD PAINT!!!! With my husband, sister, family and friends as a support system to drive, cook, do laundry, and dinner, we relocated my essential painting equipment within arm’s length. It was my salvation. A reason to get up in the morning: To eat and be productive: HOW WONDERFUL! A WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!! After six weeks of painting indoors, I ventured out to see my children compete in the Philadelphia Tri/Athelon. The Roll-a-bout caught an edge and I lost my balance and fell on my knee. Once again, the doctor had bad news. The Knee cap was broken and an immobilizing cast from ankle to thigh was put on for another four weeks. Throughout these past three months of inactivity and 2 months rehabilitation, I have continued to paint. Looking at my garden, my family and my art. It is what sustained and inspired me. How lucky to be an artist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright © 2005 Diane Hark Art. All rights reserved.