Fortune Tree 3

How My Art Will Renew My Life - After Norbert's Death

by Amirah Husain-Doblinger on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 6:31pm

It’s already six weeks now. I can still feel the apartment filled with joy, love and laughter. Everyone who knew Norbert knew what a “larger than life” personality he had. We got married after knowing each other for a short while and spent the most glorious life together....now what?

After several weeks of mourning and feeling a bit lost I wondered how do I get my life back on track. I had not worked for a long time, -- now what can I do to fill the void in my life? I had been in the hospital with him since February. I have not felt the need for a creative outlet yet. Didn’t hold a brush or doodle in a long time but I still love colours. People always tease me about being obsessed with the colour red. But somehow red feels warm, bright and it attracts attention. Red makes me happy. I never had a formal training in art and what do I know?

I am all out to start fresh. I don’t know if people really like what I have painted but I do know my husband has always been proud of my paintings. He said my paintings expressed the real me. A colourful woman, daring, fascinating, individualist, full of love and warmth. I feel like a kid again. Everything seemed so new and shiny. New brushes, tubes of paint in rainbow of colours and a couple of canvases. I am going to start painting with a sense of creative freedom and excitement. One of the rooms in the new apartment will be converted to a studio. Andrea says that is a very good idea.

My heart is pounding and I cannot help by smile to this new adventure. It's a whole new world I'm going to explore. The first few pieces will be hung in the entry hall of my new apartment so everyone can see them. The canvases will get bigger, the colours bolder and my soul will feel fuller.

To those who have bought my paintings, thank you. And darling, thank you too for believing in me!!

Fortune Tree 2

Fortune Tree

Enchanted Forest I

Passion Of The Heart

To Love What Is

I woke up today feeling melancholy. And when I read your note about those people who come into our lives for a reason, it made me cry. It was as if you answered all my questions that I already knew, yet wanted validation and affirmation.

I remember one day, in the hospital with Norbert, I held him in my arms and lay beside him in bed. When the nurse saw us together, she grew shy and pulled the curtain around us. Do they think we need privacy? Then she said, “In all my years working in hospitals, you are the first couple I’ve ever seen in bed together”.

She was curious about us. She asked how long we’ve been together. I gave her a long answer. Fifty years since we fell in love, forty four years of separation and five years since we got back together. She grew mushy…..

After awhile, she got used to seeing us in bed and stop pulling the curtains. And every day, you keep reminding me of all the good times I had in my life and am ever so grateful that I have lived it the way it was supposed to be lived.

My Home My Sanctuary

My home is my sanctuary a place of peace, happiness, and always full of joy. It may not be the choice of many people’s dream, but it is my dream. My home on the whole is a comfortable and a comforting place to be.

I have rules, not tons of them, but they are mainly common sense. Like no violence allowed, no abuse of others (including animals), or self. If you mess it - you clean it (sit down when you pee) etc…. Basically pretty easy rules to follow. I have a few that are different to what others have, such as you must remove your shoes when you enter my home, it’s done for two reasons; respect and cleanliness.

If you are a child I will treat you no different than my own for the most part, but you will be treated as a child. If you are an adult you will be treated as an adult. Everyone must treat one another with respect no matter what their age.

Manners must be followed at all times. The people that you live with, or share a home with, are in your lives on a daily basis. Why should you treat them worse than you would a stranger you meet on the street? Be a good conversationalist at dinner table and I will be happy.

Malaysians seemed to have forgotten how to behave in other people’s homes. If you like the way my house is decorated, great if you don’t then don’t mention it. It was designed to function for myself and my family. Designed for our comfort and our ease of use. I’ll be as polite to you in your home, I promise.

When did we as a human seem to forget that our homes are meant to be lived in, not merely a place to sleep at night. My place is not a show room that a neighbour has to be jealous of what I own, or trying to make them feel uncomfortable, but just a place to be happy and comfortable. I have been known for my great hospitality and I am enjoying it.

I can't wait to get home.....