Good for ONE DANCE

I made this atc for the magazine Home Companion --- last February/March's ish --- it was featured on page 107 in their section called Paper, Scissors, Crop along with several more atcs of mine, an atc holder I created, and lots more by my dear friend and excellent artist Sylvia Luna and the talented Stacie Rife.
The photo is my pretty little mother around 1941, about 9 years old, with a Wisconsin cuz.
Regardless of circumstances or the state of one's relationship, losing a parent (or sister, or child or friend) is not something one comes to grip with easily or in a convenient time frame.
There have been enough losses in my own life and the lives of those I hold in my heart to speak with a bit of knowledge on the subject.
It is exactly two months today since my mum left this life.
I hope some day to possess both greater faith and a larger grace than I do now, but for the moment I find myself somehow lacking --- something. Whatever strength of heart or will is necessary, for understanding and acceptance, well, I haven't enough.
I study images of my mother's face at all ages, and find her sweetly and terribly beautiful and also, inscrutable.