Tim Makes a Big Wish
As I mentioned in an earlier newsletter, I ask people to make wishes from time to time. The point is to get people to ask for things large or small, just for themselves. Too often we neglect ourselves. Request good things for yourself.
Here’s a marvelous example of what can happen.
It was back in 2005 or 2006 when I was reacquainted with a wonderful artist, Tim Saska. I used to represent Tim’s work at Houston gallery many years before. At the time, I saw one of his paintings advertised in a national magazine. They were very appealing, so I called Tim and we began representing his works. We did very well with his paintings and he often said that phone call made a tremendous difference in his career. It was Tim that did the beautiful paintings. He made it easy for us to place them with our clients.
After my time at the gallery we had lost contact with each other, but years later I called him when I began visiting Santa Fe on an infrequent basis. It was great to see Tim again. He lived in Santa Fe and was just the tour guide I needed. One evening after dinner we were standing out under the stars. Tim was about to drive back to the tiny place he was renting in Santa Fe. There wasn’t a lot of room for him or studio space for an artist given to making large works. He was doing okay but there was too much struggle and I could tell Tim wasn’t as happy as he could be.
I was married to Linda at the time, a smart, attractive women who is also a marvelous hostess and great conversationalist. (No, we are not married now but we are good friends. For that, a lot of credit goes to her, thank you, Linda.)
It was a great dinner with the three of us. As Tim was getting into his car afterwards, he made it clear that he had had a wonderful evening with Linda and I. He said, “Ken, you’re the luckiest guy in the world. I wish I had someone in my life like Linda.”
I remember looking at the stars so sharp against the dark sky that night and proposing to Tim that he make a wish. Why not ask for that wonderful partner in his life?
It was about 6 months later when I got a call from Tim. He was very excited and began to tell me about a lovely woman he had met, Joyce. She was a scientist working at a prestigious laboratory in the area. He was really smitten with her and he couldn’t believe his luck. Although he kept it light-hearted, he was quite serious when he described himself as something less than the Great Catch. He couldn’t figure out what Joyce saw in him, but she truly cared for him and he had moved in with her. He had found his wonderful companion and yes, she even had a better space for him to work in. Everything had had worked out beautifully.
As I recall, it was about a year and a half later when Tim discovered he had a serious illness. It was tough, and in a time that was far too short, he was gone. Joyce was with him all the way and Tim could not have been more grateful for her.
He had a wonderful funeral service with a gathering of good friends. They brought their tears and good cheer. During the service, some of us got up to speak. I was honored to tell Joyce this story, where she heard it for the first time.
As it turns out, Joyce had been widowed before. I can’t imagine what was going on in her mind and what she felt in her beautiful heart, and bless her heart. I would speculate that she was the perfect person to love and care for Tim in the last part of his life. She truly made him very, very happy. She was his wish come true.
Time is short, dear friends. Ask.
Yes, be grateful for what you have but please give yourself permission to ask for more. Should you find yourself with more than enough, then you can share with others. Should your heart be filled to overflowing, then you can share that also.
Enjoy this wonderful season and don’t forget to put yourself on the gift list too.
Ken
Do you have a story of your own to share? Send it to Ken
