For Love of a Gray Horse: Goodbye Bruce

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Goodbye Bruce

This is a departure for me. This post has nothing to do with either horses or photography and art but I received some bad news today.

I don't know how any of you feel about mainstreaming children with mental handicaps but I have a story that might change your mind if you oppose it.

My friend, Bruce Lawson, passed away yesterday. Bruce made deliveries for the local pharmacy. When he didn't show up for work yesterday morning, someone was sent to check on him and they found him. That is all I know right now. I have no more details nor explanations as to the cause of death. But what I do know about is Bruce's life. He was so special but special not because of his handicaps but because of his abilities and his heart. I went to school with Bruce. He was two years ahead of me in my husband, Steve's, class. He was the kindest and sweetest person I have ever known. And unlike nearly everyone else I knew from way back then, Bruce never changed. He was always so obviously happy to see us whenever we'd run into him at the grocery, on the street, at baseball games. It's been years since Knoxville had a baseball team but when they did, we'd always see Bruce there and he'd sit with us even though he had box seats and we were usually in the cheap seats, lol. He never missed any game, any sport he was on the sidelines cheering on the team. He was often in the press box and he'd lend very knowledgeable commentary. Despite his disabilities Bruce had an amazing memory especially where sports and sport stats and scores were concerned. It was truly remarkable. He also remembered our high school days like they were yesterday and would remind me of times and incidents that had long ago grown foggy for me. Bruce went to school with us from grade school on. He was always passed so that he could stay with the kids his own age. In those days, there were no special and separate classes. Every day Bruce was in the classroom side by side with his classmates. And when it came to sports, although he lacked the coordination to play (and so did I:), he was obsessed with any and all Loudon Redskin sports. He always participated either on the sidelines cheering on the players or behind the scenes. Bruce wasn't able to go to college like his brothers but he did grow up to be a functional and contributing member of our community. Maybe this was possible because this is such a small town or maybe Bruce, with his incredibly large heart and spirit, was the exception to the rule but I know that I speak for all of those that grew up with Bruce when I say, he gave much more to our lives and education than he ever took.
Goodbye my dear, sweet friend. You will be forever missed!

I wanted to share Bruce's obituary because it shows just how accomplished and loved he was:

Bruce Carlton Lawson
LAWSON, BRUCE CARLTON - age 55, of Loudon, passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at his home. He was a member of the Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He had served as a delivery person for the News-Herald and was a courier for BankFirst/BB&T, and most recently RxPerts Pharmacy. Bruce was a boy scout and a proud graduate of Loudon High School class of 1972, and was voted Best School Spirit by his classmates. In 1972, LHS Principal Wm. S. Napier and Superintendent A.C. Dukes, Sr. presented him with a trophy for being Loudon's Most Loyal Fan. He attended Hiwassee College. Bruce was an LHS icon, attending all sporting events, rarely missing an LHS game. He served as scorekeeper and statistician for many years and was LHS's number one cheerleader and fan and will be sorely missed by the entire community. He also loved the New York Yankees, served on a TSSAA committee for classifications of schools, and was presented a plaque by Lou Holtz inducting him into The National Football Foundation's Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen (Cook) and R. A. (Bill) Lawson, Jr. He is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and generations of LHS athletes, faculty members, and friends. Graveside service 10:30 AM Saturday, March 7, Loudon County Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM, Saturday, Loudon High School gymnasium.

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About Me & Gray Horse Designs

I've always had artistic leanings. I was drawing stick figures before I could talk. Friends recall that I was constantly drawing or painting as a child. I grew up and I did major in art in college but I never could find direction. I kept switching majors and trying so many different things trying to find the one that fit, the one that fulfilled me. I seemed destined for a while to be a lifetime student. Then one day, I found myself out of work, burned out on school, and very depressed because I'd also just suffered a miscarriage. I was alone at home and totally at loose ends when I picked up a piece of wood and began to see a horse in it. The irony of that will become more evident later in this story but the truth was, that as soon as I touched a knife to that block of wood, it was magic. I felt as if I'd come home. From that one piece of scrap wood and a small cheap craft knife, a business grew and took on a life of its own. I started creating whimsical, wood sculptures and I sold my work all over the world. Then one day, at a crafts exhibition in Chicago, I met the head of Enesco's new gift wares section and my career took off in yet another direction. I designed several very successful lines for them over the next five years but after fifteen years in this business, I started slowing down and losing my enthusiasm. I decided that I'd try another medium but like trying to find my direction in life those many years before, this wasn't an easy task.

I knew that I still wanted to be creative but I didn't know what medium I wanted to try next. So, I tried many but no magic, no flashes of inspiration. Then one day, my husband and I were sitting on a Mexican beach relaxing and enjoying the salty breezes and beautiful views. It was his 50th birthday. He told me how much he was enjoying himself and he asked me what I was going to want for my 50th birthday which would be coming around in two years. I didn't even hesitate before I answered him. "A horse!" I said simply and to the point. I'd wanted a horse for as long as I could remember and I knew that if I didn't get one soon, I'd never get one. So, from the moment we touched down on US soil, I began my quest. There were two things that I didn't realize at the time, that my horse would actually arrive soon after my 49th birthday and that she would totally change my life. Everyone told me that at my "advancing" age, I surely needed a gaited horse because their smooth gait was much easier on aging joints. I began my search knowing nothing about horses or even what I really wanted and certainly nothing about what I needed in a horse.

I was lucky because I met two great horse ladies who pointed me in the right direction. The first told me that the horse I wanted was a Missouri Fox Trotter and the second lady, Fran Forester, offered to help me find the perfect MFT for me. She told me about a man she knew who knew more about horses and specifically more about MFTs than anyone she'd ever met. The only problem was, he very seldom agreed to sell one of his horses. Then one day, she contacts me and she is very excited. The man, Huston Jenkins, was selling some of his horses and one of them was the dapple gray that I'd been dreaming of. I'd told everyone that I wanted a dapple gray horse and when I found her, I would call her Mouse. Huston's niece had promised to take some photos of the gray horse and email them to me. They arrived in the middle of the night but I had been waiting for them. I printed them and thumbtacked them to the bathroom wall beside the mirror so that they'd be the first thing my husband, Steve, saw when he got up the next morning. I wrote across the photos, "This is the ONE!!" I'd decided that as soon as I saw her but I was even more convinced that it was fate when I saw her papered name, Mouse's Funny Face. My fate was sealed.

That was over five years ago and that beautiful, dapple gray mare has since become my muse, my inspiration, my teacher and my life. I started doing equine photography and art because of her. I've met so many wonderful people and horses because of her. My herd has grown from one horse to five now. The latest was a gift from Mouse two years ago, our sweet, lovable and beautiful Danny (Traveler's Sensational Flyby.) I have a blog dedicated to Danny called Fly By Danny Boy that tells his story.

For several years, I tried to start a new business doing strictly equine photography but I soon discovered that this is the wrong economic climate for starting a new business of any type but especially one that's primary product is a luxury. I've been doing art my entire life so I'm not ready to give it up. In fact, my solution is to diversify. I plan on cleaning out my workshop and studio and starting to do wood sculpture again as well as painting and drawing and hopefully handcrafted jewelry. My old enthusiasm and creative drive have returned in force. All of the mediums that I'm delving into will be diverse in subject as well but I'd be willing to bet the farm on the fact that the majority of art work will be equine in theme.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Goodbye Bruce

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If I Could Fly