Life-Affirming Art, So Appropriate As a Baby Gift

I have the great pleasure to announce a birth in the Shields family, as my eldest nephew Brad and his lovely wife Alie brought their son Beckham (pictured) into the world a couple of weeks ago.

This gave me the opportunity to send them a poster of the alphabet that was done by a fine friend of mine from college, which he gave me when my wife and I had our kids.  Frank Riccio, who was already a fine illustrator when he lived next door to me at the DKE chapter at Trinity College in the 1970s, was a beautiful person and went on to a fine career and family life that he lost to cancer a few years ago. He’s very much missed by all whose lives he touched.

It seems only right that his gift lives on.  Here is the letter I wrote to my infant great nephew accompanying the poster which appears below it, though this low-res version doesn’t do it justice; the level of detail in the original is hard to express in words.

—

Dear Beckham:

Welcome to the world!

Here is a poster that was done by a dear friend of mine; I hope it means something to you at various points in your life.

Most obviously, it’s a representation of the alphabet that you’ll soon be learning, and using throughout your years. It’s the toolbox with which you’ll construct your innermost thoughts and feelings as you move through your life, make friends, learn about life and the universe, fall in love, bring little ones into the world, battle your way through the tough times we all face, and accomplish everything of which you’re capable.

On a more subtle level is the artist’s statement that life itself is wonderful. When you look at the image he drew to represent each letter, consider the thought process that went into it. Children are Angels, we live in a world of supreme Beauty, clean air and water are Clear, and so forth. These are 26 little affirmations of the grand gift of being alive, and together they comprise and a short guide to happy travels.

My personal take-away from all this is that we are all given a choice as we make our way through our lives.  As you’ll learn all to soon, the world contains a great deal of hate, ignorance, and violence.  We are at liberty to let that define us, or to shift our focus onto who we really are: people of love, acceptance, laughter, compassion, and the sheer exhilaration of waking up each morning to a new day.

We won’t be here forever, but we’re here now. Live each moment for everything it’s worth. Do your best to make it a joyous one, not only for you, but for all those around you.

All my love,

Great Uncle Craig