“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.”

The story behind my painting “The Christmas Bridge”

A few years ago we had a unexpected snow storm on Christmas Eve.

Two weeks in the making, we had already sent invitations in advance to a host of our closest friends.  “Join us for a very special Christmas dinner!” we promised.

The storm as it turned was insurmountable and dangerous and so it became impossible for our friends to reach us.

And so we sat, the two of us, with a king’s ransom of dinner, lights, music, desserts and unopened gifts – feeling, well a bit empty. Our special evening didn’t seem quite so, well, special.

We sat, eggnogs calming, candles burning, the blue twilight casting something magical across the little bridge out the front window.


christmasbridge
The Christmas Bridge (a painting, PRINTS Here) – Douglas Moorezart, copyright 2016, all rights reserved

Nothing had changed really. The bridge into our house stood steadfast, waiting for our guests to arrive, not seeming concerned about the turn of events in the slightest. And it would, it promised, continue waiting each and every day. That was its purpose, its reason for being after all.


The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

― Eric Hoffer


That evening we agreed that this small unassuming bridge represented, to us, friendship. Friendship which remains true whatever challenges come along.

I wish for each and every one of you (who have so kindly blessed me with your comments and visits) successful arithmetic this season. That you can find blessings to count. Perhaps even some that at first don’t seem especially so.

— Douglas

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