Fall 2010

LIVE… from Saint Marten, Netherlands, Antilles. December 26^th, 2011

I cannot believe it has been months since my last blog!


 I do have some great excuses though!
So, please excuse some typos and grammatical errors. I have fled the country and left my editor behind. 



It has been a very busy and exciting fall for me. I just came up for air and put Christmas to bed a few hours ago.


 Let me recap a few exciting moments for my book, my life and the art world I live in. I PROMISE to do better in 2011. Pinkies swear.

My New Teaching Position…October, 2010

Lucky for me I was recently hired at a School in Florida this fall. It took me about a year to find a great position. But, fortunately it gave me one of the best years of my life. Without that time I would have never finished my new house. The new house we bought was “move-in ready”, but every room needed some paint and some of my touches. My husband wanted to find a house that was redone. He is always traveling for his work and it leaves very little time to do anything around the house. Besides that, I was very busy with all the marketing and traveling obligations for my little book. It was a good year off and also a very rewarding year despite not having a “full time 9-5 job!”

Anyhoo… I am now teaching Visual Art to over 800 beautiful, well mannered and intelligent students ranging in ages K-5. I call it “Camp Cupcake.” Everything and everyone is so cute and lovely. I teach 9 classes a day. Each class is 30 minutes long. This is all new to me but thank God they still have the Arts in the school. While I lived in New York, I had one of those wonderful (sarcasm inserted here) Carts. Yes, I was “Art on The Cart” for 5 years. I hated it. It was loud and the squeak in the wheels never went away. I spent more time rolling over my toes with it then teaching.

With my new position, it is so wonderfully ethnically diverse. In my glorious spacious room, at any given art table, I might have students from South East Asia, India, Haiti, Europe and of any Spanish decent represented. I have a few children that were recently adopted after the horrible Earthquake in Haiti. I also have a refugee from the Iraqi war in one of my classrooms. He is a beautiful little boy. Though, he is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and does not speak. He does enjoy sitting next to me and being my helper. I ask him weekly for a “high five or a smile.” He just stares at me with the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen on a child. I hope to hear his voice soon.

My past teaching experience was with the Special Education population stemming over 15 years. The experience I had in the past in New York was priceless but incredibly emotionally and physically taxing dealing with low socioeconomics families. Chicago was a great fit as well, but fate brought me here today. Here, I have dozens of parents volunteering in the school daily and a budget to make any teacher jealous. I am so grateful for the technology in the room. I am very excited to be part of the Bill Gates Grant Hillsborough County received. I am looking forward to be a part of the new change “Waiting for Superman” was seeking! The Teaching staff is extremely professional, courteous and educated. I have not met one person waiting for retirement or abusing the “Padded Rooms” you have read about in other Department of Education’s around the country. Every “great” teacher should be empowered and supported. I am looking forward to working here for years to come.

How I found the position?

It was an unfortunate accident where the art teacher died in a car accident last September. The school did a fabulous job supporting the students and staff with bereavement counselors and special help from the community. Over the past couple of months I have done special readings from my book to a couple of the classes. I participated in “The Great American Teach-In.” I spoke to a couple of classes on how to illustrate and the 10 year history of my publishing route. I get a kick out of the excitement the students have for writing. During any given week, students show me some of their illustrations and writings they are working on. My refrigerator is now filled with drawing of me and many of my students. I love how they portray my really long legs and they always make me look very svelt.

Wedding Bliss…

On another note…I am branching out in another direction that I can now add to my resume, “Save the Date,” wedding cards! One of My best friends is getting married this April at a quaint little winery in the north Georgia Mountains. It is a dream come true to see someone I care about so happy. I am doing an ink sketch of The Winery for the amazing couple. Stay tuned with the design!

The Panama Canal 2011

This past fall my family and my husband’s family have celebrated life with two amazing celebrations. My father-in-law beat his Kidney Cancer and my beloved Great Auntie Ann who I adore celebrated her 90^thBirthday. My family and I took my Great Aunt Ann to The Panama Canal. A place she always wanted to go. In the past year Ann has lost her sight but it did not detour our plans. So, with that frame of mind we all took off on our very own Trip of a Lifetime. We sailed around Aruba, toured Volcanoes, sailed through the Locks in the Panama Canal, ate Fresh Tilapia and Plantains with an indigenous Panama Indian Tribe in the mountains, sipped Rum on a Banana Plantation in Costa Rica, Toured  the Old City In Cartagena, Columbia and climbed waterfalls in Jamaica. As we dined with each other every night Ann shared stories of her life. Some funny, some sad, and some regrets. She is quite the survivor. The death of two husbands, breast Cancer and now her loss of sight has made her stronger. She has always been a great influence in my life. She always catches me off guard too. Comments to make anyone blush. This blog is PG so I cannot even retell some of her famous lines to me over the years.

My mom and I were walking through the colorful streets of Jamaica when she told me my dad always wanted to go to Jamaica for their honeymoon. She now regretted not ever taking a honeymoon. She said she spent that week after their wedding looking for teaching positions in Chicago instead. I tried to comfort her and told her, “Well, you kind of have dad here now…you have me.” We drove through the Fern Forest silently and I know she was hoping he could see Jamaica through her eyes. I know he did. He rarely never went anywhere without her.

I witnessed three women; my mother, my Auntie Jan and my Great Ann survive the deaths of their husbands in the past and yet they still smile and toast each other with great love and affection despite their grief they still carry in their hearts. It was moments like this that meant the world to me. This trip was one of the best moments in my life. I will never forget the look on her face when we watched out from our ship balcony sail through The Panama Canal. 

She waited her whole life to see this. Of course she was now blind made the experience very emotional. No person, no commitment, could of ever taken me away from this private moment I had with my family. One night at dinner, my mom told us she still talks to my dad daily. With that comment, we all burst into tears and cried for a moment. Two seconds later we signaled to the waiter, “More wine please and bring Auntie another Scotch!”

I am now sitting a few yards from the beaches of The West Indies. I still have sand in places sand should not be. I am still stuffed from Christmas dinner. My brother-in-law outdid himself again. He was a fine chef in another lifetime. Shooting and producing political commercials for Hillary is just a side gig in this lifetime. I am still a little hoarse from singing and laughing all night. My ears are still ringing from all the excitement. We put the French to shame last night. Everyone is still asleep on the island of Saint Marten as I write this. My husband’s entire family is all here celebrating the victory my father–in-law had this year being Cancer free. They remind me so much of my own family. They celebrate each other with great love and affection too. Though, they sing more after the 10th bottle of wine has gone dry. It is moments in life like this that make it all complete. My mother-in–law Gertie gave a toast at lunch the other day and said something so simple and true that will define this trip, “This is a dream come true. Thank you.” And again, within seconds, daughters, sons, sons-in-laws, grandchildren and me, burst into tears, waived to the waiters and ordered more Wine and Scotch.

This island is very special to me and my husband for many reasons. We had our first official date (we knew each other for a while) here two years ago. He flew me down from Chicago and picked me up at the airport and within days we were in love and months later we married. It means the world to me to be back here with the love of my life…my husband. Two days ago we walked the beaches in St. Barth’s and spent time on St. Jean and tomorrow we will visit Saba and The Prickly Pear for lunch and some snorkeling. Life is meant to be celebrated. I am starting to really
get that.
GFA

MD Book Fans...my inspiration.

Lately, I have had some of my favorite "little people" and friends of my book, Maurice's Daughter, A Book of Healing, send me beautiful well wishes, pictures, and thank you cards. I am forever thankful and extremely humbled by the warm response of my book.

It has been the best year of my life in doing something that is so passionate to me. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for all your support and love to me and to my family.

Below are some of their thoughts...

Galina,

I just received your book.

I'm so excited.

It is wonderful!!!!!

I had goose bumps while reading it. I could see you and really identify with the character.

It is beautifully written with especially exquisite illustrations.

You have a gift, and I'm so proud to have known you and found you again.

Pursue your dream to write more, you got what it takes.

Your dad must be so proud of you...

William James wrote, "The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life."

That is what your dad did for you and you will for your children some day.

I will cherish the book forever. I wish I could articulate as well as you how proud I am of you. Keep up the good work!

Best, Joanne

This is an email from a dear friend of mine. She was so kind to send this to me. Her mother in law lost her own daughter last year and whenever I need direction and encouragement I read this note:

Becky, today was the time and home was the place to read Galina’s book. January 3rd will always be the day that marked the most horrific occurrence in my life and it will soon be here. The book was very beautiful and moving and the art work almost spiritual in nature. I am glad you have a copy of the artwork for your daughter. You don’t know how important and moving it is to me that you were the one who gave this book to me. Although it brought tears, it also reassured me that it may be possible someday to move away from the all encompassing grief I feel for My daughter's fate. I pray for the angels that visited Galina to come to me and reassure me that she is free of the physical and emotional pain that crippled her in the past few years of her life. I want to know she is surrounded by joy, peace and love that she must not have felt on her last day. Not knowing this is her after-life fate weighs heavily on me.

Thank you, JH

Galina, 

We just got our shipment

of Maurice's Daughter. 

And, I just finished  

reading your masterpiece. 

It's a

little difficult

typing through 

the  

tears in my eyes. 

I love 

your book.

I love 

the drawings. I love the  

words. I love the memories of 

Maurice.

And, I love your family,

Spider   Lake and knowing all of you. 

You made my morning. 

I think I'll just read it every morning

to get my day started off in 

the right direction. 

I'll "open my curtains 

to the Sun each day and  

dance throughout

my precious life..."  

Love you Galina and can't 

wait to give you

a big hug next weekend. 

E.P. 

Sofia's Surf Mural / Girl's Bedroom

This Surf Themed Bedroom Mural

was so much fun to create because

I had the little girl right next to me

designing it as we went along.

It took about 20 hours and I finished

it in two days. The head of The Pottery

Barn Bed was underneath the sand section

on the mural. The shelving unit of the bed

was on the right hand side of the last photo.

You can see her aquarium in the

last photo where her fish get to see the sea everyday!

The mural is about 10'x6' feet.

What's Hot Tampa Bay Magazine Article

Galina J. Fouks-Abele

www.galinafouks.com

Rising Star

What's Hot Tampa Bay Magazine

With Billy Castro

Maurice’s Daughter Author/Illustrator

How did it feel when you heard the news that your book, Maurice’s Daughter was to be published and printed by The Fig and The Vine Publishing House?

Fabulous.

Jaw dropping.

Amazing.

Shell shocked.

I was in a complete state of joy and utter happiness. It was my Super Bowl. A moment I wished was captured on film or bottled up. One minute you are laughing the next you are crying with pride and joy. At first I did not believe it. After 10 years of being rejected from other Publishing houses around the country I was a little skeptical. I had my hopes DENIED by a few PH that was interested, but it did not work out. Publishing a book that has the same illustrator and author is very hard, if not impossible. Most Publishers want to hire their own illustrators. They do not want to pay the double royalty fees. Finding a publisher that deals with Grief/Bereavement is also taxing. It is not a money maker and most publishers know they will not come out ahead on this topic. It’s a small nitch in the publishing world. So, I would not believe it until I saw it was my first reaction when Lilly Herndon Weaks with The Fig and The Vine Publishing contacted me with the contract. Three months later they sent me my first hard back copy. My husband opened up a bottle of champagne and we sat and read them silently with each other on the couch. At the same time we conference called one of my best friends who is also one of my new editors. We all laughed and cried. It was a great moment to hold my beautiful book and actually smell the new pages. I just sat and stared at it. I will never forget that day. It is right up there with the best days of my life. Shortly after I was told they wanted my book, my publisher said they were going to try their best to rush the print so I could be a part of the Book’s A Million’s Fall Book Festival (see picture of my mom and I goofing around outside the day after the festival) in South Carolina. Sure enough the book was printed in time and I had my first book signing on the anniversary of my father’s death. I sold my first book to a man who had been told by his doctors that he only had 6 months to live. 3 years later he was standing before me with his new and first granddaughter and asked me to sign the book, “Life is a gift Sarah Bell.” I have been signing it that way with every book I sell. I believe everything happens for a reason. There are no coincidences in life. I truly believe that God gave me that day, October 16^th for my first book signing to guarantee my belief that we will all see our loved ones again. I think my dad sat right next to me that day.

This is something that is rarely talked about. The moment when you see your book on the book shelves in a book store is one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences an author can have. When I turned the corner to see my book Maurice’s Daughter on the shelf with my husband I had to act very calm and cool. I had to contain myself for the book store would have probably kicked us out because all I wanted to do was swing from the rafters like a gymnast, jump up and down in glory and high five every one is the store. Once we were outside and down the block we did a few cart wheels and fist bumped each other. That was a great day as well.

When did you have the burning desire and interest to write this book?

My father was killed in a car accident in October, 1995. His death and the grief that followed brought me to my knees and for many months I placed my life on hold. It was a very sad time. You become very numb to all the things that you loved in life. Food, happiness, and sunlight. I was not raised with a religion so my family was my faith. I had many questions and concerns with the aged old questions of life and death. The burning desire to create a book did not come right away. It was very gradual over a couple of years. I soon began to dream of heaven and my dad. I painted the dreams God gave me and it transformed into a book. For some time I did not know how to end the story until this beautiful angel came to me in my dreams and gently woke me up and whispered to me “wake up my dear… please do not sleep your life away.” I think symbolically God knew that the veil of depression was done and it gave me strength to move on and look forward to another day.

Who and/or what has been your strongest support and motivation?

It was my father and the family he created with my mom that supported and motivated me to publish his story along with dreams God gave me to help others with. I know that I would never had this chance to see the other side if it was not for my dad’s death. In many ways God gave me the paintings to paint. I simply held the brush and the dreams took over. Some people have one rock in their life. I have many. I am very lucky to have a husband whose greatest goal is to make sure I follow my dreams like he has, my mother Kathie who has stood next to me through out every hurdle and accomplishment, my amazing and very loving siblings; Meegan, Noel and Lana and a sea of friends both new and old who have supported me with this dream. As an educator for 15 years I was extremely motivated to publish this story for children to use as well. While I created the book I kept in mind that I wanted to create a gentle and soft approach about death, heaven and the grief that follows after you lose a loved one. I wanted the message to be about healing and feeling okay and content for that moment. I wanted my illustrations to convey the beauty of where their loved one went. I truly feel I missed the chance to help many during 911. I used to live in NYC and you could feel the world’s sadness every time you left the front door for a while. The city grew very quiet in its sadness.

Most people have a hard time listening to their heart and following their passion, what did it take to believe that this book was the right thing for you to do at that moment in your life?

In so many ways I started it shortly after he died. I began to journal what I was feeling, with cards, poems and messages people gave me, words I heard over the week of the wake and funeral. I remember the closing line of the poem that I read for his eulogy,

“Please paint us a path to follow now in life, for our eyes are blinded with sadness.”

Shortly after I started to receive the dreams, I began to paint them. I think as an artist you instinctively follow your heart and listen to that sic sense and most importantly to what your soul is motivating you to do. As soon as the narration and the story took shape I could not put down the paint brush for months that transformed into years. It evolved over time. When you have the right compass everything falls into place as it should. The pictures of the pages took over my imagination on many days.

Do you have other projects that you are working on that you’d like to share with us?

Yes, many. My publisher is keeping me busy with endorsing the book with book signings, workshops and lectures across Florida. I have partnered with TideWell Hospice organization with a couple of book signings and they are now using my book within their facilities. I will be at Barnes and Noble June 4^th and on July 4th I am having a signing in Hayward, Wisconsin. My father built my cabin close by and I am very excited to bring his story back home. Besides working on the marketing aspect of the book, I am currently researching my next book and illustrating book jackets for another author at the moment.

I have my hand painted baby clothes at Babes n’ Bellies and hand painted children’s furniture at The Giggle Box, both in South Tampa. I am currently painting a surf themed mural for a little girl’s room in Trinity. You can see more of my work at www.galinafouks.com.

Where is the coolest place you have ever visited on the great Earth?

Some of my favorite places would be: Bath, England, Paisley, Scotland, St. Marten, West Indies, Savannah Georgia, La Jolla, California, The Red Rocks & Pikes Peak Colorado, The Aaron Islands, Ireland, Paris, Sitges, Spain, BUT my favorite place on earth will always be my cabin on Spider Lake in Northern Wisconsin.

Geiger Bedroom Mural

The Geiger Mural

July 2010

This whole theme was

based on 2 ideas: the pocca dot pillows and

sheets and one chocolate and silver colored Hibiscus Flowered pillow.

We later added an Inspirational poem

from a mother to a

daughter dancing in and out around

the dots and flowers.

It took about

10 hours to do while her 12 year old daughter was

away at summer camp.

Her daughter was very surprised

and loved her new room.

Going Home

Going Home

Book Signings

Book World, Hayward, Wisconsin

The Firefly Gallery, Cable, Wisconsin

July 2nd and 3rd, 2010

Well I made it. I love Road Trips. I had so much adrenaline and excitement as I drove north. A little bit harder on the return though! I drove from Florida to Spider Lake, Wisconsin and back all by myself. Over 3, 000 miles. I did have help along the way with many hours of conversation from family and friends all over the country! Thanks AT&T! That iPhone sure came in handy. Not only do I love the Hotel App. on it but also The Starbucks App. is a must. What did we do before all this great technology! Oh yeah, we settled for Motel 8’s and Crummy Gas station coffee with no fresh milk and just dried creamer! What is that anyway? I had a great Mini Book Tour and a much needed return to my cabin that my dad built for all of us 30+ years ago. I was driving up there because the gallery owner at The Firefly (see picture above) had a great idea for me to visually show the viewer/customer a story of my life through my dad’s paintings. So in tow, I grabbed boxes of my books and the framed illustrations to sell and fled. By bringing my book, Maurice's Daughter, I felt like I was bringing a piece of my dad home to the cabin. Some days I just long to be there. My soul had missed it very much. Little did I know this trip gave me one of the best “Visions” as an artist, daughter and a creator. And again, little did I know that the Jade necklace that belonged to my beloved Grandmother Jean had become my new “good luck charm.” I had been wearing it for two weeks ever since my Great Auntie Ann’s 90th Birthday (see picture above) Party in Flat Rock, North Carolina.


 I wore it in spirit for my Grandmother Jean. Auntie Ann and my Grandmother Jean were sisters- in- law but acted more like sisters. It was longer then my dresses neckline so I took it out and pulled Auntie Ann aside to show her the necklace that I wore for them representing their friendship of 60+ years.

After driving for 8 hours I ducked into Atlanta, Georgia for a slumber party where one of my best friends and also my first editor threw a little dinner party with her 
closest friends and “Soon-to-be-Husband.” She invited friends over for a mini book signing and then we ate a wonderful home cooked meal created by her love. After everyone left, I could barely make it through dinner without crying in sheer excitement for her and their wedding plans. We sat up until 4am talking like two little teenagers. I think I cried the whole night. I felt so much happiness for her, the only thing that was productive that night was my tear ducts. I cried every time I thought of her wedding details on the second day of my trip. I would call her and let her know some more of my ideas, themes, textures, colors, etc. and what camera I will buy to photograph her wedding. This union between two amazing people is such a blessing. I am so glad they found each other. Happiness just radiates around them. I told her that there was something about her that was so different. I had never seen this side to her. She seemed even more relaxed, calmer…Peaceful. She was all those things but just more of the three in a very beautiful way. Everything came full circle for her. She met a man who gave her MORE beautiful energy.

I have never felt more overjoyed in the last year of my life then this one. It just seems to be getting better and better. I met Jess in the first week that I moved to Atlanta in 1994. After meeting her we were pretty much glued to the hip. We danced throughout the city, played volleyball, traveled, dined and doubled dated. Over the past 10 years after I left Atlanta we were fortunate that every job she had she would do business in every city I lived in. It was great to have her business expense account. We had some pretty nice dinners over the years. We have had some great moments in life too from good to bad and everything in between. I nicknamed her my "Earth Angel" years ago and that is simply what she is. My Earth Angel. I love her to pieces. I think that is why I have been so emotional lately regarding her upcoming nuptials. I just wanted her to experience the love I have felt since meeting my husband. True and genuine friends are never jealous of one another, I truly only want the best for her and for her to experience unconditional love, happiness and moments that take your breath away. Life is so short NOT to have that.




I left Atlanta somewhat early and only made it to “Lovelace,” Kentucky or something like that. There was a smudge on the town’s sign and a larger branch covering up the other side. All of a sudden all the cars came to an extreme halt on the highway for almost 4 hours. People chatted on the double yellow line, a skateboarder rode his skate board in and out of all the semi trucks, some jogged and stretched. For some, well they just stood there with their arms folded on their chest. I sat and looked at the empty gas icon on my dash and wondered if I could run, make it to the bathroom 2 miles down the road, and purchase a gallon of gas all in time to get back before traffic started to move again. I was told a funny story at breakfast earlier by my friend’s mother where her husband had to go to the bathroom on a fishing trip and ducked into the woods. He didn’t have any toilet paper on hand (whoever does?) so he used what God gave him around him. Sure enough he got Poison Ivy in places you never want Poison Ivy. So I nixed that idea and held it for four hours. I reminded myself that accidents like this never have a happy ending. Sure enough they closed the highway and rerouted millions through the beautiful countryside. You could hear the sirens and the helicopters in the distance.

As I drove on this little old 2 lane highway, the townspeople pulled out their lawn chairs, exposed their bellies and drank beer. We, the endless stream of traffic were their entertainment. I thought of all the famous photographers at this point who shoot America; Alfred Eisenstaedt, Henri Cartier Breson, Sally Mann, and Richard Avedon. My GPS could not even locate a satellite to tell me where I was. My husband told me just to pull over and find a hotel. I tried to snap a picture of the Wigwam Motel but at 10 miles per hour I still was going too fast to get the perfect shot of the 20 cement Tee-Peas. Those moments gave me great pleasure and a good laugh but then I reminded myself why I was on this 5 hour detour. I was still shaken from the accident and fortunately my husband (along with my iPhone app.) found a hotel close by along US65N. I was disappointed because I wanted to spend more time in Chicago but reminded myself that many lost their lives tonight and it probably was a good idea that I stop. As I drove to the hotel I prayed for those families that must be in the worst pain. I know those types of phone calls. They are never good. Even today, 15 years after my dad's accident, if the caller sounds upset I tend to get nervous quickly. Ironically you can have a million great, happy and positive set of phone calls all your life, it's the few sad ones that have brought you to your knees that will always set you back at times. Ironically it's not phone calls anymore that deliver news. As I pulled up to the hotel I received a text message late in the night from my oldest friend in DC stating they had to put their dog down because he had inoperable cancer. Now extremely saddened because I know what they are going through. My dog died last year and he was almost 15 years old. I miss him daily. I sat for a while and emailed her my thoughts and concerns how to handle this regarding her only daughter. We have both shared the loss of a parent together. We actually have shared everything life has to offer come to think of it. I think there are people that come in your life for a reason. I am thankful that I met her when we were 3. But I am for certain that I met her earlier then that. I think our friendship has a depth that can't be compared or described to earthy objects or things. She is one of the most beautiful friends I have. I think I needed to just go to bed that night. To many sad moments in one day.

There are several reasons why I love road trips. One is the downtime to myself. I often drive in silence. It’s something I picked up while I lived in New York City. It was the only place I could turn off the world. I love to drive, it’s when I am most productive with my thoughts. I feel like I can take in more beauty and sort my thoughts and ideas without so many distractions. I love to stop and take pictures, meet local people and sit in diners along the way. No offense to the locals in southern Kentucky but there was one woman at a gas station I assumed was a foreigner. Her southern accent was so strong that I thought she was speaking a different language. It actually happened to me twice in one day at two different gas stations. My husband would of love to seen the face I made trying to understand what she was saying. He thinks my next book should be called "The Book of Gal and Her Faces."I guess I throw out some pretty weird looks at him once in a while. I told him I just need some Botox and we could fix that problem quickly! Unfortunately, I was supposed to be with my husband on this adventure to my cabin. He is a Professional Golf Coach and coaches many on the PGA, LPGA, Nation Wide and Japanese Tours. With that in mind, our front door is constantly revolving with golfers coming in and out of Florida to see him. At one point he told me recently and joked, “Maybe we should have bought a bigger house?” I told him, "nope! Too much cleaning for me!" We only have one guest room at this point. But we have a fair share of blow up mattresses that our guests don’t mind converting our two offices into bedrooms. Some days I am not sure who will greet me in my kitchen. I am learning a lot of Japanese though! I love all his players. He is one of the best coaches to date. I have never been more proud to stand by someone’s side. I do enjoy walking in his “office.” I have seen some of the most famous holes and the prettiest golf courses around the country. I have become addicted to the sport and my mom recently found my first set of golf clubs that I used at the country club that my grandparents belonged to. I think I was 7 years old when I mastered the game of golf. I wrapped them up and gave them to him as a gift. They are proudly displayed next to his entire collection of champion player’s pictures, trophies, plaques, etc. They are about 3 foot tall. So cute and a little rusty. There were even some small traces of dirt left on them. Obviously, I was very good because why else would they be all scratched up? (That is a joke) One of his PGA players was over and I showed him the set. I told him when he was done using my husband as a coach he knew where to find me. The joke of this all is that I still believe in “Do Over’s.” I tease them when they are playing “Putt-Putt” and I tell him that was a great shot on the Freeway, not the Fairway.

What I did not realize as I began this journey that “Something” larger then myself had an agenda for me to feel, see and share something special. This trip began to unravel a beautiful idea. The trek from Florida to Wisconsin contains all my favorite roads. I love the point in Georgia when the Palm Trees disappear and the Pine Trees take over. The temperature is dramatically cooler. The foliage gets a lot thicker and greener. Usually at this point in the drive you can roll down (Jeez, I just aged myself and I’m back in the 80’s) or hit the automatic window button to roll down the windows. I love the Blue Ridge Mountain Range where the highway and the fog weave in and out of the Georgia and Tennessee Borders. Highway 24 over a Tennessee canyon is just breathtaking. The mountains become pillow like structures in the distance. Something out of my last book MD. The whole book was based on several dreams that I had to heaven and back. In one of my dreams I flew to Heaven. When I looked below the Tennessee Mountains looked like the carpet I saw on Heavens Floor. I often think that they need to create more “Rest Stops” in areas that are actual “Look Outs!” Indiana took my breath away with the new Energy Windmills (see picture) they created in a cornfield. It was so amazing to see. It stretched for miles. It was endless. I pulled off to the side of the road and snapped pictures. Another car did the same behind me and we all starred at this massive windmill in “AWE.” I want to reinstate the ban that was lifted in 1971 after Lady Bird Johnson left office with The President. She created a bill that banned all billboards. America has turned into an eye sore in some areas. The "sign" usage across the country is out of control. It is so distracting and for better terms "ugly." I brought the idea up to my husband and he said maybe I should just start small and contact my Mayor. I think I might!


I stopped in Chicago for the night, dined with my family, saw my sister and brother’s new house, clipped and trimmed the garden around my mom’s house and slept in my old bed. As hard as it was I got out of bed to finalize the last 400 miles to my cabin. I packed up three of my dad’s paintings( see picture above of his first painting he did of me in 1972), wrapped them with care and loaded them in my car. They had never left my mother’s house with the exception of his funeral. With a blink I was out of the city limits, hit cruise control and sat back for the last leg.

It was a quiet ride with nothing to share. My windows were down, the sun was setting and I actually put on a jacket and turned the heat on. I stopped for gas at one of the last larger towns in Northern Wisconsin and read my last email from my publisher. I would not have a signal for the next 2 hours until I got to my cabin.

She wrote,
“Hi Gorgeous! Are you getting excited? Is it gloriously, wonderfully bee-u-tee-ful there? Been thinking of you ALL DAY and the full circle moments ensuing, the fun and yet stress of being at events with family and friends, your arduous journey getting up there the past several days and all you've been doing in your new life. It's a lot. And even joyous new beginnings take much work and are tiring, even in their goodness. I hope you'll take a moment to take a nice walk, all alone, for just a few moments and take some deep breaths - take care of your health, I know how having signings wears one out, even while strangely boosting one up! Like life, full of contradictions, joy, and a bit of pathos mixed in... Know how proud your beloved father is of you and your Heavenly Father, too!” It continued, but the last line blurred my vision.

I jumped back in the car and made my way back on the highway. It has become one of my favorite stretches of highway where a 4 lane highway turns into 2 lanes, the woods thicken, the temperature drops again and the trees welcome me home. I watch my hand flow in the wind outside the window like and airplane and thought of Lily’s message. She was right. We accomplished so many wonderful steps and hurdles this year with our book. He would have been so proud. I started to cry not because I was sad, but because I was so HAPPY. So many amazing things happened to me this past year. I was so thankful for my beautiful life, my husband, my family and friends and the chance to bring his story, Maurice’s Daughter home. My husband called knowing it was his last chance for a while to say goodnight, safe travels, before I lost my signal. I told him I just started crying for no reason at all. Just a stream of happy tears I described. Ironically, we have this great connection together. There are no coincidences when two people are that close to one another that they can sense something going on with the other. After I got off the phone with him I looked in the rear view mirror of my car to check if the paintings were still tightly wrapped and when I turned my glance ahead there was my next story.

My next book unfolded as I drove and all I could do was cry. Page after page unfolded before me and I saw every new character, every page, and every line in the future book. I felt like I was driving through a museum and the paintings were like flashes of light. Within 5 minutes the whole story was presented to me. I looked at the passenger seat just to double check to see if someone other than myself was present for this. This is something I will never forget. One of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had.

Flashback 5 years: When my Grandmother Jean (92) was dying in Chicago I had flown in from New York and slept with her in the hospital. She was weak, very frail and stopped speaking. I slept in the other bed in the room and my brother made a bed out of the Lazy-Boy Chair. In the middle of the night she tapped Noel’s arm and called out “I am thirsty.” I sprang up and went running wildly down the hallway yelling for a nurse to help with my grandmother. She was given her last rights shortly after that. On the night that followed my aunt stayed with her this time. Again she woke up and told my aunt, “I need to get ready for the wedding dear, they are waiting for me.” My Aunt Margie asked “whose wedding mom?” My Grammy stated, “My brother Bill’s wedding.” My Aunt Margie knew Bill married my Great Aunt Ann 50 years ago and he died in a plane accident. My Great Aunt Ann had been widowed for over five decades by then. The only wedding that was to take place was mine. Actually it was suppose to be that day, the day she was given her last rights on May 29th, 2005. I had called it off a month prior to this. She asked my Aunt Margie to shut the door. My Aunt Margie told her it was closed. But she insisted that it was still open. Margie, being opened minded and spiritual said, “Well Mom, maybe you should shut the door or walk through it?” My Grammy asked, “Do you think I should walk through the door? My Aunt told her if she needed to she could do it on her own but we would stay here. She also reassured her that we would take care of grandpa. The last thing that night that my Grammy asked my Aunt Margie was, “Can Galina goes with me?” I savored that, how she wanted me to go through the door with her.

So I arrived at the cabin, nestled in my favorite woods, stood on the front porch (see picture above), overlooking the lake and laughed to myself about the vision I just had. I looked down at my grandmother’s locket, kissed it and placed it aside for safe keeping. I took out a bottle of red and poured myself a glass of Cab and enjoyed the solitude on Spider Lake. This was my heaven.

My family arrived the next day and the silence was replaced with little boy’s laughter and giggles and the spirited voices of my mom, sisters, boyfriends, girlfriends and one of my best friends and her family. All 15 of us were very comfy.

The book signings (see pictures above) at The Book World and at the Firefly was everything I imagined and more. I paid my 4 year old nephew Reece (named after Maurice, my father) 5cents for every “Hello” he gave to any customer in the bookstore. He actually stood on the sidewalk and yelled “Get your book signed today!” Then came along my other nephew Quinn and he passed out the candy. He ate a lot of it too! All in all it was absolutely wonderful to showcase his paintings and my book in a town I grew up in. I donated some of my books to the local libraries and at one point one librarian said, “Oh, are you the Spider Lake Gal?” I said, “I am the Spider Lake Gal!”

I spent 2 weeks of pure joy at the cabin. If there was ever a place I would call heaven, this was it. Later in the week I played around with the story in my head. I bought a sketch pad and began to sketch and that night I started to type my next book. The first line of the story will go something like this, “As I opened another door…”


Thanks Grammy for giving me the vision. I love you too and miss you very much.

Galina Fouks-Abele

www.galinafouks.com

Author/Illustrator of Maurice's Daughter