Wednesday night I opened a (belated) birthday present from my beautiful wife. It was not her fault it was over a month late. Hobby Lobby had shipped the wrong item, and then gave her the run-around trying to get the correct item. The box arrived last week… and my wife’s mom and pop were in town for nearly a week. After her parents left town I opened the present. This time, the present was what my wife had ordered… and something I have wanted for a long time: A French Painting Easel.

Now I can finally re-engage my dream of oil painting, heavily influenced by Bob Ross. I grew up watching his show… and I remember him saying “Happy Little Tree…” or “Happy Little Clouds” while he painted amazing landscapes in what seemed like only minutes.

I have been telling myself for the last couple years that I was going to get back into oil painting. Well… now I have the books, and I have the easel. So this weekend I am going to the Material Exchange Commission for Community Arts (MECCA) to get some supplies. MECCA sells all kinds of used arts and crafts materials. Whatever I am unable to find there, I will purchase at a a different store new. Then next week, during one of my breaks from foster parenting and graduate school studies… I will begin oil painting.

Getting back into oil painting has been on my bucket list for a long time. Now I am a big step closer. I hope whatever dreams your bucket list holds, you are able to make them happen.