The Real Sleeping Beauty Part III...

Sleeping Beauty fair,

Gold of sunshine in your hair,

Lips that shame the red, red rose,

Dreaming of true love in slumber repose…

My artwork that I have purchased are not just pieces bought for resale value, they have very personal and profound meaning to me. I am surprised that I now have three Sleeping Beauty paintings. It was not my intention to have three by three different artists, is just turned out that way. I guess it is because Heather LOVED Sleeping Beauty, Aurora, so much. In my eyes Heather is very much like Aurora.

I was torn, not really, between two paintings. I placed the two photos on FaceBook to get some feedback. Not that I have to explain my decision in choosing Awaken The Beauty but I want to share my feelings about this painting. The moment I looked into the gallery window my eyes were drawn to this painting. It was hauntingly, beyond stunning to me. It touched me deep within my heart and soul.

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful long hair and red lips.  Aurora is sleeping so peacefully, not a care in the world. Heather had beyond beautiful hair. It was long and she could make it do anything she wanted to. It would drive me crazy that she could twist her hair into a bun and hold it securely with a pen or pencil. Heather loved the fact that she could style her hair as Julia Roberts hair was done in Steel Magnolias. She would fix it and then come tell me it was the “end all hairstyles.”

Princess Aurora’s long, thin, willowy body shape was inspired by that of Audrey Hepburn.

Aurora is Latin for “dawn”

I have explained in Part I about how I placed Heather’s Ball Gown on top of her the day she died. The moment after I placed her ball gown and tiara on Heather I told her she was “wearing” her tiara and ball gown. I told her she looked beautiful. What I didn’t know was that Bill was taking a photo of me. It has become one of the few very moving photos that I have. Yes, it is horrible to see and remember just exactly what was happening that day. It has been titled “A Mother’s Love.” In that moment when I was talking to her I only saw the true princess that she really was. I didn’t see all the machines and IV’s. Our nurse Racheal commented that this painting reminded her of me looking at Heather that last day. I had not really thought about it that way, but it does.

One of Heather’s favorite flowers was roses and her favorite color was red. The single red rose placed in Aurora’s hands is priceless. Heather had a single white rose placed in her hands. [A single white rose symbolizes light, purity, innocence, remembrance and a new beginning.]  At the time I wasn’t thinking about asking it to be changed to a red rose. A small detail that escaped me and at this point it doesn’t matter. She had a single rose like Aurora.

The prince is named after Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

This painting draws your eyes right into the center, the red lips, red rose and the Prince’s red cape. The entire painting is mutated colors in shades of gray/blue. WARNING-truth about death coming…skip the rest of this paragraph. In the moments after Heather died, or anyone else for that matter, color leaves their body and they become a ash/gray color. It happens and it very difficult to see. The prince and Aurora have nearly no color. It is the hauntingly beautiful portion of this painting for me. It also seems that the prince’s face is reflecting Aurora’s face, her beauty. Sandy told me “all she sees in this painting is the life Heather must be living in death.” She knows me so well that her words say what I couldn’t put into words…”so much deeper than just a painting…it’s a complete depiction of Heather!!!” “No words can describe this painting…It’s deeper than the eye even goes.”

In the clouds in more detail,  Maleficent in her dragon form is in the center. Of course the evil verse good where good triumphs. The Prince is given the sword of truth and the shield of virtue by the fairies. He uses these to destroy Maleficent. Heather conquered, defeated or slayed her evil cancer. She was still in remission when she died. Maleficent tries to destroy love and the Beauty, Aurora and gets defeated just like Heather defeated her cancer. She still died, but she was cancer free and I take comfort in that sometimes.

Sleeping Beauty Castle is featured in the clouds on the right side of the painting. It is the final destination. The sky is clear, moon is full and there are stars. It is the mansion beyond the hilltop. Just like Heather’s mansion in Heaven is in the clouds and perfect. Of course The Castle at Disneyland was one of Heather’s favorites. She wanted to live in the castle. I can never see the castle enough and always take photos every time I am there. It is probably one of the most photographed places in the world. Everyone wants a photo of or with the castle. Once I saw The Castle in the corner I knew it was a complete painting.

The painting is beyond special to me and I know some of you may not understand or “get” it and that is okay, you don’t have to. It means something to me and that is all that matters. But it isn’t just a painting it is a symbol of four years of living without my daughter here. In some ways it seems like wow it has been four years, time went by fast. Then in other ways it has only been four years. How many more years do I have to go? 10, 25 or 40 more years without her. The remainder of my life is spent without her. I don’t get the happily ever after with Heather. I get no wedding, no son-in-law, no grandchildren and no future days together. My relationship with Heather ended. Well, at least the relationship I once had. I have a new one now through my memories. It was really sad that I realized soon I will run out of new and different photos to post of Heather. Honestly, that is sad…very sad.

Flora: Wait, Prince Philip. The road to love may be barred by still many more dangers, which you alone will have to face. So arm yourself with this enchanted Shield of Virtue, and this Sword of Truth, for these weapons of righteousness will triumph over evil. Now come, we must hurry.