Mood Painting
Blue
It was November 28, 2011. I was on my way to the palliative care unit in the Sarnia hospital to see my younger brother. Yes, he was dying, and I needed to say, “Goodbye, Bruce.”
It was a drive that should have taken me about an hour and a half. It took me twice as long.
Of course, I had my camera. And everything I saw along that route called out to me. I was especially drawn to those sights that I’ve loved since I was a child: old barns and sheds, silos, windmills, hay fields.
Nostalgia wrapped her arms around me, and gently tugged me back to those childhood years with my brother.
Below you can see my original view from the distance. The one that grabbed me in the first place. The one with the decaying bones of the once proud barn, landmarked by the silo, tall and straight and solid. And the whole scene accented by the shed, which as you can see was in fact, red. And as I passed it, I knew I would be stopping and turning around for a closer look.
As I doubled back I was swept in by those dark grated doorways, and knew I had to see the other side again.
Once again I am drawn into my thoughts of Bruce and his too-short life.
He was a wonderful man.
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26 Nov
This entry was published on November 26, 2013 at 7:00 am. It’s filed under
Architecture,
Family,
Nostalgia,
People,
Perspectives and tagged
barns,
blue,
death,
mood,
mood painting,
red,
sadness,
Sarnia hospital,
saying goodbye,
sheds,
silos.
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Audities' Photos 
What a beautiful eulogy in words and colours.
Many hugs. Heather
Thanks, Heather.
I am so sad to hear that you lost your brother, but I am happy that you had a chance to say your goodbyes. The pictures are beautiful, and nostalgic…. there must have been a bigger barn beside the silo at one time. I find it so sad that in my area they let the old barns with character fall down, and replace them with modern tin sheds.
Thank you, Elizabeth. Two years ago today.
Before his time.
Yes, like you, I feel it is a shame when beautiful big old barns are ignored or torn down. Also, often before their time. One day I may salvage the wood from one of these grand old gentlemen to re cover my house.