Debra Bodine, for a long time, was my care giver. Social Services, that fine organization in Lake County, sent Debbie to my home each week day. She helped me with my house work. Because of my limited income I qualified for home care at no expense to me. I get around OK but help with vacuuming the rugs, sweeping up my bread crumbs in the kitchen, picking up Cleo’s fur from the sofa and such, helped me a lot. It gave me more time to write my stories.
The Social Security Administration upped its annual cost-of-living stipend in 2015. That raised my monthly check. I appreciated the extra $20 I had but the good news had a dark side. The check increase took me $6 over the limit to qualify for free home care. I could still have home care because of my age and disability but if I used it I would have to pay, partly, for it. That was OK. That was right and proper. I expect to pay for any service or thing I receive.
I couldn’t afford the cost under the new plan. Besides, I reasoned, I needed the extra work around the house as a way to move about and exercise instead of sitting at my word processor for 10 hours at a time writing nonsense. If I didn’t move I would grow fast to my chair like a house plant in a pot. Then where would I be?
Debra, while she was here, helped me with the housework and chores. I asked her about her hobbies and she told me she painted. Encouraged by her good husband, Jim, she had painted several scenes and drawings. She showed me photographs of her work. Debra had talent. She was good.
I was, long ago, a painter. While no world beater when it came to painting landscapes and portraits, I did that for a few years as one of the several professions I followed during my 90 years on this planet.
I encouraged Debbie to keep painting. As I researched the different agencies and interesting jobs of people in Lake County for the “History of Lake County,” I met fine people. Several of them ran the Lake County Art Council.
Last Tuesday, a couple of months ago, I strolled into the Main Street Art Gallery. I was there to hold an interview with the lights of the Lake County Arts Council; to find out what they were doing and what their plans were for Lake County’s art future. One thing I discovered was that this county has barrels of talent. A lot more is going on that I thought. The range of artistic endeavors, painting, plays, poetry and all the other arts is broad and fine enough to put most counties and countries to shame.
I suggested to Debra she should go and see those folks. Maybe she might want to join one of their art classes. She did. A few weeks later, after Debra left my employ and I no longer qualified for home help (without having to pay for it), I was without a helper. I had not seen or heard from Debra for a while. She called me one day to announce that she had entered the county fair art contest in the animal and portrait division, held Sept. 9.
“I won first place,” she told me.
Since then Debra has three of her works on display in the Lake County Courthouse; a lion, a landscape and a woman’s portrait. Since I flatter myself that I had a small part in encouraging Debra in her art endeavors, (I am certain Jim Bodine, her husband, was a whole lot more deserving than I) still, I was proud as a new father of Debra’s recognition and achievement. It was as if I won first prize.
Gene Paleno is an author and illustrator living in Witter Springs.
