Maurice Sendak and Me

Once upon a time, as long as I could remember, I would draw.  I drew through my childhood, I drew through my school years. My goal in life was to go to art school and indeed, I was accepted into Parsons School of Design, Pratt, Chicago Art Institute and the School of Visual Arts.

I went to SVA as an Illustration major and my dream was to illustrate children’s books. The one I loved best of all was Maurice Sendak. I didn’t consider myself a writer by any means, but dreamed of the day that I would be awarded a Caldecott Medal for my own children’s books, just like Maurice Sendak.

But life handed me a different path and I left  SVA and became a birthmother instead, yet I never left Maurice Sendak behind.

Me and the Wild Things, the Wild Things and I

I took him with me down this wild path, whether he knew it or not. Maurice Sendak was my talisman,  my touch stone, a link back to my younger pre adoption self. That girl with dreams, with hopes, with a soul that was not fractured by loss. The girl who did not hold sadness in her eyes.

Where the Wild Things Are was my connection to my son, the baby I left behind, my Wild Thing. Sendak’s work was the reason my son was named Max, the book and doll what was left of me. Where the Wild Things Are is the theme of my adoption experience.

And of course, both the art of Maurice Sendak and, especially,  Where the Wild Things Are provides much of the visual direction and design of this blog. In fact, I just updated last week with a new theme here which incorporates the actual Wild Things font.  I am all too pleased with the $3.00 investment.

Of course, I cried terribly when we lost him last year. I have never imagined a worked where Maurice Sendak did not flow.

Yes, I went down a different path in life. I have long given up the dreams of being in an honored league of children’s books authors and illustrators. Nope, the world will not say things like ” Not since Maurice Sendak..” and then tie in my name… yet, oh yet…

Today is Maurice Sendak’s Birthday

He would be 85. And as fitting, the Google Doodle is dedicated to the art of Maurice Sendak today. I love it.

I also love that I have already receive numerous messages today about the Sendak doodle from  various points in Adoptionland. Yes, I left illustrations long ago, but I am so pleased and honored that when people see Sendak’s work, they think of me.

And at this moment, it’s better than a Caldecott, it’s not as I expected, not as I hoped, but in a small way, it’s kind of a dream come true.

Thank you, Maurice, for everything. It’s so much more than we knew. So much more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for walking me home.