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Freddy the Great, Grandfather, Jean-Pierre, Lady with an Ermine, Leonardo da Vinci, Massachusetts
Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci, 1489–90, National Museum, Kraków, Poland (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I have been working on the French Revolution, but slowly. I have a brother who was diagnosed with cancer, a few months ago and underwent treatment, a horrible experience. He collapsed about ten days ago and he has since been in intensive care. The cancer has metastasized.
He is twice my size and very strong, so none of this seems possible. The poor fellow.
My first memory of him is the two of us playing in the train that took us down to Athol, Massachusetts. My father had not seen his father in twenty years, so we went to meet him. After this initial visit, we were travelling back and forth between Quebec and the farm in Massachusetts.
My grandfather was different. He had seven cats, two of whom were blind, but Freddy the Great, the largest cat, took care of the whole group. Nanny, his wife I believe, and my mother just loved one another. They went shopping together.
It was a strange situation. My grandfather bought the farm from Nanny, but he asked where she would live. She didn’t know. So he invited her to stay in her house and keep her furniture and belongings. He was alone and he didn’t have anything, but he was a gardener, hence the farm.
My brother loved his grandfather. We will talk about him often.
I love Leonardo’s Lady with an Ermine.
I wish you a happy Sunday and I am returning to my post.
Love to everyone ♥
Head of a Woman Leonardo da Vinci (Wikimedia Commons)
© Micheline Walker
26 August 2018
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
I am sorry to hear about your brother’s extreme ill health. You have some lovely memories to share with each other. My best to you.
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Gallivanta, it’s hard to believe. He was so robust. I was hopeful for the last year, but I don’t think I can be as positive anymore. He tells me he has had a good life and he is not afraid of death. He has loving children and grandchildren. And he has had a happy marriage. His wife is fine and his sons take her to the hospital so she doesn’t have to look for a parking spot and fight her way through various queues. I’ve told him that a person who has raised good children is a very successful person and that he can be proud of himself. I mean it.
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I completely agree, Micheline. To have happy, healthy children is one of the greatest successes of a parent.
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Gallivanta, My brother brought up good children. His main focus was family. Each has a beautiful soul. I’ve started to age, and they are there for me as I am there for them. Take care Gallivanta.
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So very sorry to hear about your brother. It feels as if you two are close. Thank you for sharing this and your childhood memories. They so define us to a point, don’t they?
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My brother is now very ill, but we have good memories to share and I think this will help. Our trips to Massachusetts brought us a great deal of happiness. He and Nanny were the best possible grandparents. There were four bedrooms in the house and he was alone. So he didn’t think she should go and regret her large house and her furniture. She was excellent company and a great cook. She was also a mother to my mother and we considered her our grandmother. Love, Micheline
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I just viewed Ginevra D’ Benci last weekend at the National Art Gallery in DC
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I’m glad you did. Leonardo’s portraits of women are extraordinary and I am particularly fond of this portrait. Her hand is a masterpiece. I thank you for writing. My best, Micheline
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i’m so sorry to read about your brother. it was very nice to read of your childhood memories, and how lucky you all were to have nanny and your grandpa in your lives.
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We were so lucky to have my grandpa and nanny. Our visits to Massachusetts were always wonderful and we grew to love the New England states. My grandfather’s mother was Irish so he spoke English,not French. We learned what we needed to learn and the United States was never a foreign country.
Thank you for writing. ❤
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