| "Bear Creek-July 2005" 16" x 18" - pastel on paper - copyright 2005 - from the collection of Milton & Karin Bradley, Castle Rock, Colorado |
| My artist friend Bob suggested we go to Bear Creek and capture the beauty along the trail. Again, Bob had to leave early, which was sad, the creek was just lovely that day. I stayed and continued to watch the sky for rain, as the clouds passed and passed again. When I least expected the sound, a little voice spoke to me over my shoulder. I turned to see that a small crowd of 16 children had gathered behind my chair to watch me draw. They were all Korean children. That little adorable face that first spoke to me was the spokesperson for the group. She said, "My name is Katu, and I am Korean American!" |
She was so cute, with her hat on crooked, and her beautiful pink cheeks, flush from running and playing, as
she stood an inch from my shoulder, breathing hard, and thinking what to say. Nobody else said a word.
Katu was the leader, and the smallest of all. She said, "My name is Katu and I am also American Korean."
I asked her if she'd ever been to Korea, and she said yes. But she couldn't speak the language very well.
She was so adorable, I instantly fell in love with this little girl. I told her I was Armenian/English American,
and I was glad to meet all of them.
For about five minutes they watched my drawing tools, as I put one pencil back and picked up another.
Then Katu said, "Can we interrupt you and walk in front of you to load our squirt guns in the creek?"
Of course, I said. I was so tickled with this scene that I could barely keep from smiling and hugging all of
them. They took turns, as each one went in front of me, squatted down in the sand and loaded their squirt
guns with water, and then gathered back behind my chair. When they all had loaded their guns, they stood
behind me, and Katu spoke for them again.
"Thank you and we really like your drawing." Just then, they all sprang back into action, chasing and
squirting each other, wet spots all over their shorts and t-shirts, and the sound of flipflops tapping up and
down the trail, and giggles upon giggles, splash here, splash there and off they went before I could say
thank you for their kind words and surprisingly polite behavior. Sweet children, and a gorgeous day at a
lovely sight.
she stood an inch from my shoulder, breathing hard, and thinking what to say. Nobody else said a word.
Katu was the leader, and the smallest of all. She said, "My name is Katu and I am also American Korean."
I asked her if she'd ever been to Korea, and she said yes. But she couldn't speak the language very well.
She was so adorable, I instantly fell in love with this little girl. I told her I was Armenian/English American,
and I was glad to meet all of them.
For about five minutes they watched my drawing tools, as I put one pencil back and picked up another.
Then Katu said, "Can we interrupt you and walk in front of you to load our squirt guns in the creek?"
Of course, I said. I was so tickled with this scene that I could barely keep from smiling and hugging all of
them. They took turns, as each one went in front of me, squatted down in the sand and loaded their squirt
guns with water, and then gathered back behind my chair. When they all had loaded their guns, they stood
behind me, and Katu spoke for them again.
"Thank you and we really like your drawing." Just then, they all sprang back into action, chasing and
squirting each other, wet spots all over their shorts and t-shirts, and the sound of flipflops tapping up and
down the trail, and giggles upon giggles, splash here, splash there and off they went before I could say
thank you for their kind words and surprisingly polite behavior. Sweet children, and a gorgeous day at a
lovely sight.