Pilgrimage

From Murmur (1983).

I don't know that I can say I've had many religious experiences... I mean I've been to church. But I don't know that I can say I've ever felt a part of a sacred or spiritually significant event that demonstrates proof of a deity or justification of faith. Some would argue that proof is in everything from the minutia of our daily lives to the beauty of nature to the miracles of love and birth. These are wonderful things to be sure, and my heart does swell in those moments when I stop to smell the proverbial roses.

Still, I'd like to think that we all have our own two-headed cow, whether we consider ourselves to be spiritual beings or not. Something we journey for, to fill our hearts with love and wonder, to fill us up so that we can keep going. This is slightly embarrassing, but my two-headed cow might be my cats. My daily pilgrimage home from work to find my two feline companions waiting for me by the door, meowing and purring, prancing across the room because I've come back for them (or you know, for food, whatever). 

And later, when your cherished pet brings you a sock all the way from upstairs as an offering, she's made her own pilgrimage, in a way. To my cats, I'm a two-headed cow, too.

The Flowers of Guatemala

From Lifes Rich Pageant (1986).

Amanita is the name. The flowers cover everything. This lyric was the inspiration for this sketch. 

click to enlarge

Because I didn't know a single thing about Guatemalan history, this pretty song filled my head with images of a pretty girl named after a pretty flower. Then I googled Amanita to find out what the flower looks like and instead discovered that it's a poisonous mushroom. You know, that poisonous mushroom, the red one with the white dots. Famous for its striking appearance and toxicity. 

I found it pretty hard to believe that the reference to Amanita in this song was some kind of error, so the googling continued. Then I found out that this pretty song references a pretty horrific event in Guatemalan history.

But I figured that if R.E.M. can make a pretty song about something not pretty... (well, I suppose the flowers on the graves of the Guatemalan dead can be pretty, even if the reason they're there is not) then I can still make a pretty picture.

Also... it's great to be sketching again! My wrist is on the mend (test results showed "non-specific inflammation of the tendons" so it's nothing too serious. Just need to make sure I don't overuse it again.