Closer to Fine...

Sometimes a request comes through that leads to a lovely conversation as we talk about ideas, and often a story emerges that explains why a particular song or poem is special. Stacy enquired about possibly having two canvasses, one as a gift & one for herself with these words...We already knew that the colours were to be along the lines of the "Cloths of Heaven" one

I Went to the Doctor, I Went to the Mountains
I Looked to the Children, I Drank from the Fountains
There’s More than One Answer to these Questions
Pointing Me in a Crooked Line
And the Less I seek My Soul for some Definitive
The Closer I am to Fine

- Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls

And so... Stacy told me that there was a time in her life when she was feeling very down... about where she was in life, who she was & was afraid of the choices she wanted to make. I think we can all relate to that at some point can't we? Luckily there was a friend called Jack who sat her down, played this song & made her listen to the words, telling her to take them to heart. The song struck a chord & Stacy sat there crying through the whole thing... I always like to listen to the songs that I am writing from, but I hope that you will have a listen to this song, "Closer to Fine" by The Indigo Girls & take in what it's about.

Music video by Indigo Girls performing Closer to Fine 

(c) 1989 SONY BMG ENTERTAINMENT

Stacy says,

The song is not only about finding true happiness within yourself but about taking chances and not getting comfortable in your own fears. A month later, Jack unexpectedly died from pancreatic cancer. It just magnified the notion that life is too short. So I am keeping one for myself and giving one the other to his wife... he was a person who gave so much of his time, devoted to so many people... to teach them how to live and find inner peace. He was a husband, father, therapist, a marriage counselor, and someone who really cared.

Are you crying too? I certainly had to dab my eyes... and I felt honoured to be able to do this for her... 

This is what I showed Stacy as it neared completion...

just a few finishing touches to add

Both canvasses turned out similar, but not quite the same... it was only when i went to edit the photos that I realised I'd photographed the same canvas twice! Shame, cos it would have been good to show the subtle differences that crept in without me even trying.

The raised gold & silver line down the side really sets it off.

I've blurred the dedication at the bottom for privacy

I'm always intrigued to hear what the recipient thinks... Stacy was teary when they arrived, then she had a lovely visit with Jack's wife who was 'amazed'. I imagine it would have been a healing visit for both of them, cos I'm sure there's a bit of Jack's healing energy in both of these canvasses helping them both be more than fine! I hope so.

"Closer To Fine"

I'm trying to tell you something about my life

Maybe give me insight between black and white

The best thing you've ever done for me

Is to help me take my life less seriously, it's only life after all

Well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable

And lightness has a call that's hard to hear

I wrap my fear around me like a blanket

I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it, I'm crawling on your shore.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain

There's more than one answer to these questions

pointing me in crooked line

The less I seek my source for some definitive

The closer I am to fine.

I went to see the doctor of philosophy

With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee

He never did marry or see a B-grade movie

He graded my performance, he said he could see through me

I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind, got my paper

And I was free.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain

There's more than one answer to these questions

pointing me in crooked line

The less I seek my source for some definitive

The closer I am to fine.

I stopped by the bar at 3 a.m.

To seek solace in a bottle or possibly a friend

I woke up with a headache like my head against a board

Twice as cloudy as I'd been the night before

I went in seeking clarity.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain

There's more than one answer to these questions

pointing me in crooked line

The less I seek my source for some definitive

The closer I am to fine.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain

There's more than one answer to these questions

pointing me in crooked line

The less I seek my source for some definitive

The closer I am to fine.

We go to the bible, we go through the workout

We read up on revival and we stand up for the lookout

There's more than one answer to these questions

pointing me in a crooked line

The less I seek my source for some definitive

The closer I am to fine

The closer I am to fine

The closer I am to fine

Songwriters: RAY, AMY ELIZABETH / SALIERS, EMILY ANN

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