Last week, we brought Ed Gulley an easel, canvas boards, colored pencils and brushes, and some paint. Today he called Maria and asked if she could come over and critique his first sketch and tell him if he was doing it right. It was of Ethel the hen.  She thought it was quite right, she especially liked the subtle lines mixing with the heavier ones.

She thought it a great start. Ed is really into the sketching and painting, and he is a creative soul at heart. The artist in him has wanted to come out for a long time, it came out two years ago with his sculptures and farm art, it is emerging again with painting and sketching.

When Ed sets his mind to something, things happen.

It was fun watching the two of them work together, Maria has an easy and open way with teaching, she is affirming without being sappy and encouraging while always being honest. Ed trusts her completely and listens carefully to her responses.

Ed is mentally sharp and strong, he is working to deal with some loss of control of his left side, his hand, arm and leg. He needs to use a walker to get around, but he is pleased to be able to get to the bathroom himself, he says it is a matter of dignity.

I’m getting Ed some thicker color pencils and perhaps an easel he can use in his lap.

I’m going to baby sit with Ed a couple of times this week and next, he is not comfortable now going out to lunch any longer, he’s not sure his left arm and leg won’t betray him. He is cheerful and non-complaining, lecturing everyone on cancer, and how it ought to be treated.

I said I couldn’t believe him, he’s had cancer for two-week and is lecturing about how to treat it. That is Ed.

Our friendship has grown close and easy again, we are natural with one another, and sometimes we both cry about not having met earlier in our lives. Men don’t make friends easily, it is precious at any age. I’m excited about his art, and so is he. I’ll try to check in every day to see how he is doing?

I’m getting used to being a best friend to a person with untreatable brain cancer, and he understands that we need to talk about it once in a while, for my sake and his.

He’s planning more trips with Carol, I hope he can make it. They are awfully tough on her. Ed and Carol have gotten serious about evaluating the farmhouse to prepare for whatever comes next.

A medical team will come bye shortly to check out the farmhouse. I think the sketching and painting will be great for Ed, it will keep his mind focused and give him an outlet for is creative spark, which burns brightly. He says the first message about his cancer that he has learned is that he’s not going to drop dead in a few days.

I told him I expect he will be story-telling and lecturing people for quite a while.

If you want to follow Ed’s journey, check out the family blog, the Bejosh Farm Journal. He wrote a lovely poem yesterday, his best yet, I think.