This painting, āTaking Flight,ā reminded me of spending time with my father. He was a thoughtful Italian man and very sentimental and I enjoyed spending time with him doing unconventional things like visiting flea markets and the cemetery where his relatives were all buried. Although he was raised in a traditional home, he once told me that, if there was such a thing as reincarnation, he wanted to come back as a bird. He thought it would be wonderful to have the ability to soar freely above the rest of the world. Many years after he died, I occasionally would look up and see a lone hawk circling above me and Iād fondly remember that comment, hoping he was still connected with me in that beautiful way. I happened to tell that story to my elderly mom and surprisingly said, āWell, me too! If you see two birds, thatās me and Dad.ā Now that sheās gone, this painting makes me think thereās so many of them now watching me. #birdsofinstagram #birdpainting #beachdecor #coastalliving #freeasabird #freebird #seagull #takeflight #lookupchild #marykamerer @dilworthartisanstation #blueskies (at Dilworth Artisan Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cN3Rhpzu-/?igshid=1ud90l7i314jp











