“Three Palm Drive”
H11 – 0338 September 2011
3″ turtle shell designed frame with powder-coat finish and hand-painted color.
Size – 19″ x 28″
Overall size – 25″ x 34″
(Sizes are approximate)
As life happens around us, behind us, in-front of us, and above and below us; it’s no wonder that from the same point of origin we often head down multiple paths, simultaneously, as we journey toward our destination. This is what happened with “Three Palm Drive”. At one angle, it is just a sleepy beachside, sand-encrusted street. Not far from here and miles from the daily grind. However, blink your eyes and, bend over to pick up that half-dollar sized sand dollar and the same street with just 5 minutes of life lived and a 5° difference in the angle of the view becomes an ode to the family loved as seen through the child eyes of an adult.
Therefore, it takes two stories (kinda like Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss) to give the 360° view of “Three Palm Drive”, with both stories adding depth and understanding to a life lived without fear. So realize…as you travel through the sky-scraper filled, smog-infested cities and the sun-drenched, palm-tree covered beaches the path you travel always leads somewhere and, with a little luck, somewhere is always the best place to be until the next adventure starts.
STORY 1:
This piece of art depicts a palm-tree lined, sand-covered street through the interstates and backcountry roads of a life well lived. A block where no stranger exists, you are always welcome, and the only currency needed is a smile. This… is the location of “Three Palm Drive”.
Saturdays are a legal holiday and Sundays are still a day to give thanks. The grocery store is family-owned and the Postmaster knows everyone’s name. The evening sun still sets on families who gather together for the “evening meal” (No matter what you call it) around the table with no cell phones, video games or television news spreading the woes of the world. It’s a time for stories of the daily adventures and a chance to make a plan for the treasure hunt called tomorrow.
On this street getting ahead means collecting joyous moments and laughter for your travel luggage. Your only job is to make sure that the path behind you is brighter and easier for others to follow because you passed this way. NOW… get to work!!
STORY 2:
I was a long way down the road of cut steel, grinded metal and welded angles on this picture, when my Dad’s older brother, R. L. Kaupke (master trader and storyteller) made the best trade of his life. He completed his end of the bargain as his wife, “Reett” short for Loretta, kissed him gently; his son, Charlie, led him to the door of heaven and his daughter, Jana Sue, held it open for him one more time.
As I strolled along one of the side streets of my mind, I hitched a ride with my Uncle Bob on one more adventure as he went to see his horse tack customers for a final time. He’d tell me stories about the towns we’d go through and I would laugh until I hurt, as the days went quickly by. He recounted with a joyous lilt in his voice the “trades” where he had been able to add a little more paper to his bank roll and never ever mentioned the deals that went “south”.
When he dropped me off on the corner of “Memories” and “Treasures”, I realized the blessings that families and friends shower on the people who know them. Some of the blessings are immediate and come at you as laughter and joy with a life lesson thrown in for good measure. The rest of the blessings incubate for years and, when you are not looking, fill you with a warm tingly feeling from deep inside your body.
As I was thinking about these blessings, “Three Palm Drive” became a nod to my Dad’s nuclear family and the blessings each of them have given me throughout the years. I can never thank them enough, but this piece of art will always be a reminder of the “treasures” given. LOVE LASTS FOREVER.
