Sam, the Seer of Beauty : Jill Berry Blog

My son Sam has a profound sense of beauty. He noticed colors and textures as a toddler. One time in the car when he was three he suddenly shouted “Mama, it is SPRING!” Looking out the car window, trying not to crash, I see winter. How do you know it is spring Sam? He shouts “Because the GREEN is coming!”. Sure enough, tiny green shoots were coming from the otherwise bare trees. He told the next door neighbor the next day how great the color of her sweater was, and how it looked good on her. He was right, it did.

Sam asked a few weeks ago, right before a visit from Grandma Jo, if he could be in charge of “plating” while she was here. We watch Iron Chef and all of us love cooking, but plating is what Sam likes best. One night he ushered us from the dinner table so he could “plate” in private. He was given a huge lot of beautiful strawberries, and some chocolate syrup. He worked away in the kitchen for some time and then called us in. This is what we got.

My plate was a house full of furniture. I had an armchair, a bed with pillows, a swirly rug and a bedside table. Steve and Jo had sculptures, about five inches high. Sydney’s plate was architectural; a piazza surrounded by buildings, with a fountain in the center. All of this was fashioned from strawberries and chocolate, and every bit was beautiful.

This picture is one Sam drew when I was showing him how to use a pointed calligraphy pen. The story below he wrote for our Christmas card. I hope to keep the Samness in our house forever, even after he grows his wings.

WINTER

by Sam, Age 8

One fine day I woke up with a cold nose. It look like a painted white land of snow.

I yelled hurray, hurray it is Winter! I want to go sledding! I see small little snow flakes on the ground!

I hear crunchy snow flakes on the ground that I step on. They go crunch, crunch, crunch.

I feel the warmth of the fire. I smell and taste hot cocoa.

I see the hot cocoa bubbling in my cup that I slurp from when I am thirsty.

I see a big sled and a snow board. So I said, I will go snow boarding right now!

I hear a big owl who goes woo, woo, woo! I even hear a big coyote at night.

Sometimes I wake up and look at the coyote. I am lucky at night.

My blanket keeps me warm. I see a snowman who is the same size as me.

So, I go and play with him. I feel the snow brush a small cast of cold snow on my face that makes me laugh like crazy.

The snow feels mushy cool in my mouth. It feels nice having little snow flakes dripping from my face.

I feel icy cold Winter snow falling from the sky. The cocoa feels warm in my tummy.

I even feel a small glaze of cocoa on my lips. I know that Winter is my favorite season now.

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