Art Buff

Art and music seem to be Ethan's forte. If I change a picture on the wall, it will surely be noted by Ethan Dempsey. Nothing gets by that little boy. "Huh...," he says. He has several huhs. He uses different inflections that mean different things. This particular "Huh..." sounds like, "Oh! I see! This is very nice."

I updated the pictures of the twins on the mantel, way, way up high, out of their line of vision. He noticed immediately. "Huh..."  He stood there with his shoulders a bit raised, head tilted all the way back: "Huh...."  I lifted him up for a closer look. He loved it. He pointed and smiled his little discovery smile.

About a month later, I put a new painting in the hallway. It is a night scene with huge tree trunks lining a pathway. A tiny man and his Boston Terrier can barely be seen walking down the path. He seemed to be especially fond of this painting. It is very peaceful looking. He stood on his knees in the hall by himself for at least 15 minutes, huh-ing with his hands resting on the wall. When we visited his Papaw James and Gramma Janis, he huh-ed all around the house looking at all the pictures and art work. Gramma Janis carried him from room to room so he could get a good look at all of her decor.

He reaches out to touch. He smiles and huhs until he has seen enough.

At Papaw Jack and Nannie Bette's house, he did the same thing...only they have lots of antiques, traditional pieces and family heir looms. It seemed like he knew this was a unique collection. He really loved their pendulum clock that can actually be heard! I don't think he had ever heard a clock go tick-tock! "Huh!" And they also have a unique railroad clock from Papaw's many years working for Union Pacific. The clock lights up and sounds like, chug-a-chug-a-chug-a, woo-woo! There has never been greater joy than that of Ethan with his hands and eyes glued to that clock, dancing to the beat of the choo-choo! ...except maybe that of Papaw watching his great grandson marvel at his "toy." Two Dempseys in a pod.

"Huh!"