12-Years in a Blink

This is an oil painting I did of our son, Collin and our dogs Gibb and Max Winkler in 2009. I painted it from a reference snapshot I took at the beach in LA in 2001.

When I reply to photos of children on Blip, I always say in my replies, " enjoy every second because they grow up in a blink."

Collin is all grown up now and I am so proud of him. He is the calmest, coolest and most compassionate person I know. He is an MD in San Diego. In July he starts in the Oncology Department at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Gibb is almost 14. He used to know the meaning of about 60-words. Now we communicate with about five signs. He nose is 100%

Max Winker (on the right) was the most lovable dog, but a terrible misbehaver and starter of fights with neighborhood dogs. Last May he severed his rear Achilles tendon jumping up the stairs 5 at a time. After a surgery and 16-weeks, he was almost fully recovered. He was in the front yard playing with Gibb. The front door was open. Abruptly, he ran in the house at full speed, laid down in his bed and died in an instant. It was a blood clot. We miss him terribly, but he led a wonderful life.

No regrets. But, if I could go back and relive those years I would do it in a blink.