“When I first saw the original painting, I began to do some research on
that little boy. I could find everything I wanted about every other
detail in the painting, but there was nothing about him. No history. And
so I wanted to find a way to imagine a life for this young man that the
historical painting had never made space for in the composition: his
desires, dreams, family, thoughts, hopes. Those things were never
subjects that the original artist wanted the viewer to contemplate. In
order to reframe the discussion, I decided to physically take action to
quiet [and crumple] the side of the painting that we’ve been talking
about for a very long time and turn up the volume on this kid’s story.
And that’s the reason why I started that painting.” Via Artnet News 2019/03/27
A day late, but posting a story of when we first got married to celebrate our anniversary:
The thing about having an autistic husband, is as much as I love him, he just is not capable of picking up on behaviors or facial expressions and knowing what they mean. He needs me to speak the words I’m feeling.
Early on, this was a problem. When I was exhausted after work and didn’t have the emotional energy to deal with anything, I needed some time alone.
I would say “I’m tired,” get up and leave a room.
He’d follow.
I would shut a door.
He would open it, and keep talking to me.
I had to actually speak the words, “I would like a little bit of space for a while.”
And then he would say, “Oh.” In a sad voice.
And then I’d feel like an asshole, because he always seemed so sad when I did that. I didn’t want to hurt him. I loved him, and I thought I was a bad wife for wanting time for myself. Things were not good.
One day, I came home, and on my desk was a card, laminated. It was simple, black text on white background, in 36-point font. It said:
I love you. Fuck off.
And he took my hands and said the reason he was sad wasn’t that I needed space— he needs his sometimes too, but I pick up the signals and leave him alone.
He felt bad that he couldn’t understand me, and I always looked so uncomfortable and guilty when I told him.
So now I have a card that I can hand to him, any time, and he will understand and go away for an hour and nobody feels guilty.
Thinking of making him a “I still love you. Still fuck off.” card for anniversary now
Season 2 is bookended by two scenes where Crowley’s heart is broken.
Season 2 is bookended by two scenes where Aziraphale is the one breaking his heart.
Season 2 is bookended by two scenes where the machinations of Heaven are the reason why.
Season 2 is bookended by two scenes that are thematically linked in the soundtrack (the song that plays when he creates the nebula, and the song that plays when he kisses Aziraphale: same song).
Season 2 is bookended by two scenes where the long-awaited and longed-for moment, punctuated by the song, ends in disappointment.
Season 2 is bookended by two scenes that are, as of right now, Aziraphale’s first and last memories of Crowley.
i learned about Tim Wong who successfully and singlehandedly repopulated the rare California Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly in San Francisco. In the past few years, heโs cultivated more than 200 pipevine plants (their only food source) and gives thousands of caterpillars to his local Botanical Garden (x)
