Paying Homage to an Old Friend
As a young man, I became an avid hunter and fisherman here in the hills of Tennessee. I can recall hearing an owl hooting and an old gobbler replying from his roost in the trees. My curiosity of different hunting areas led me to a lot of hiking down old logging roads which would often lead to a new discovery. While chasing a gobbler around once, I discovered an ancient log building that is nestled deep in a holler away from everything and I was amazed at how sturdy it appeared. For over 40 years I had not been back to this area. Talking with some of the older folks from that area one day, I was told that the barn was built before the Civil War. It was no surprise to me..as the logs and sandstone rocks that it sits on appeared to be ancient.
Now as I grow older and constantly looking for places for reference as well as plein air paintings, I have started to think back to places in my past. Memories have started flooding in of places and times that I had either forgotten about, or just did not pay attention to. I guess this is part of...growing old. Early spring this year, I decided to revisit this site and see if the old building was even standing. To my surprise, it is!! Amazingly, the sandstone rocks used for the foundation have held up, and the small stream that has always flowed beside the hill that the barn is built on still even flows. While setting my easel up, I was trying to image the people that lived in this era. Folks today complain if the air conditioning goes out, or the car breaks down. The small stream was the air conditioning back then, the car was probably a mule or horse. As I began to paint, I felt as if it was my obligation as an artist..to try and preserve part of the past.
Will this building still be standing in another 40 years? I do not know. Life is short, my friend. With age, comes wisdom. We have all taken things for granted during our life, or got caught up in the rush for success, or chasing our fortunes. This old building is now my friend. If these old walls could talk, I would listen. Standing the test of time, war, floods, and still able to endure life...I have learned a valuable lesson from it. Live each day as fully as you can, and do not take an old friend for granted...they may not be there the next time you decide to visit.
