Field under a Stormy Sky

Dear Mr. Van Gogh,

It is with great enthusiasm that I write to you today!

You see, I am a huge fan of your work. In 2001, I had the great fortune to visit your museum in Amsterdam with my dear friend and travel buddy, Cyndi. We were on a whirlwind-fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants European tour and we figured we'd pop by to say hi and get a better view of the scope of art you produced.

I was so moved by your work that I HAD to purchase a print... right then and there. The problem was that Amsterdam was the first leg of our trip. We were lugging around rather large backpacks and not quite sure where we were going next. Not that I minded taking your print along with me, it's just that it became quite the ordeal. It was not a very well thought out plan, to say the least.

 

Together we trekked from Amsterdam to Italy. Oh, and what an overnight train ride that was, bunking with four other people and getting frightened to death by a drunken Swiss (another story in and of itself). After coasting along the Italian countryside, we ventured up to Austria, then through Germany and Switzerland and back to, you guessed it, Amsterdam. 

There were times when I thought I'd have to dump my new art due to small lockers, limited sleeping quarters and just a general sense that it was a pain in the butt to keep it from bending. I persevered though and everyone - including my new revered Van Gogh print - made it back to the states, safe and sound. 

It's been nearly 10 years since that epic journey. This week I finally picked up that art from the framing shop. It has been hung, with much care (even after spending the latter of its life on my garage floor), at the foot of my bed. I cannot tell you how happy this had made me! 

The print is titled, Field Under Stormy Sky. When I look at it, not only am I reminded of that incredible 14 days in Europe, it also seems representative of my life right now. I am a field - but right "there" is a huge storm. It affects me, it moves me, it changes my landscape, it's beyond my control. Yet, somehow, it's still incredibly beautiful. 

The storm that changes our landscape can be tremendously difficult to endure while it's happening, but afterward the sun comes out and we see everything with a refreshed pair of eyes. The sun shines brighter, the grass seems greener and the beauty of our world is even more magnificent - simply because we survived the storm. 

So, Mr. Van Gogh, thank you. In 1890, you created a piece of work that now hangs on my wall. It is beautiful and every time I look at it I smile. 

Until we meet again.

Susan