An Uncommon Life

I believe artists are crucial to the collective health of mankind. No matter the economy, the state of the environment, or how many wars our politicians manage to keep the rest of us involved in. Artists are the dream-makers and the condition changers.

My daughter knew this well. “I want to make a difference with my art,” she told me more than once. She was sensitive to the degrade of society, and really worried about the public schooling that her peers received. And she was tough, ready to take on society’s ills and do something positive. Her intention was to help send life spiraling back upward from the direction it was headed.

I think artists are more influential than politicians, because they can touch and change our hearts. – Merry

The fenced-in garden we had in California was a draw for rodents of all kinds. Besides the gophers who ate my bean plants (but I couldn’t bear to poison) a family of mice lived within its confines. Cedar was in the garden picking me some squash one evening, trailed by her beloved cat Molly, when she heard a frantic squeaking.

While Cedar had been searching for zucchini, Molly the Cat had focused her intention on a terrified mouse. Cedar bent down and put her hand next to the shivering ball of fur, and it leapt into her palm without hesitation. “Molly!” she scolded her cat while transporting the rodent to safety in the cucumber patch.

All animals loved and trusted Cedar. Although she had never ridden a horse, she made fast friends with our neighbor’s mare, offering her pats when she sidled up to the fence on our morning walks. And the little Shetland stallion that lived a couple properties over loved it when Cedar ran next to him while he playfully followed on the other side of the fence.

As a matter of fact, we became total vegetarians for years, mostly because Cedar was so upset by the appearance of chicken at the dinner table.  – Merry

My (almost) 6 year old granddaughter is a storyteller. Sometimes, to my great delight, she enhances the ones I tell her.

For the past two Christmases Ada has received handmade books from her “Grammy.”  These are stories I have created involving the various races of fairies that inhabit both our yards. For instance, here in Florida we have  mango fairies, grapefruit tree fairies, mushroom fairies and even starfruit fairies.

The adventures these little people take part in are subject to alteration and elaboration  by Ada throughout the year. She informs me that they have  babies, engage in what we humans might consider noxious behavior (such as eating bugs) and so forth. As you can see, Ada herself is a fairy, so it makes sense she would be so knowledgeable.

“Cedar was beautiful, multi-talented and extraordinarily funny. I anticipated sharing her life for years to come, eventually growing old and cantankerous under her watchful eye.” In a few poignant phrases, author Merry Rosenfield describes the relationship she enjoyed with her daughter, who passed away in 2001.

An Uncommon Life: Surviving the Loss of a Gifted Child details the unconventional upbringing of young artist Cedar Rosenfield and her older brother David. There may have been no television or white sugar allowed in the home, but Cedar’s childhood was anything but tedious. From traveling across the country with her family in an old laundry van as a toddler, to experience in drawing, dance, writing and theatre as a home-schooled child, Cedar’s life sprang from the fertile soil of a loving and unorthodox family.

Merry Rosenfield’s sensitive writing style combined with her daughter’s beautifully executed and often humorous illustrations creates a profoundly enjoyable read. An Uncommon Life is a touching window into the penetrating bond among a family of creative people forced to deal with unthinkable tragedy. It details how their individual spirits eventually triumph over grief—a powerful reminder that joyful lives can be rebuilt after an occurrence of devastating loss.

After I finished writing my book, I had to locate a competent design and layout artist.

Eli and Merry

I wanted to work with someone local, so I could actually meet him or her in person. The search was a little daunting since I am very picky concerning anything  to do with aesthetics.

Enter Eli Blyden of Crunchtime Graphics. He was recommended by our printer, who said “He is a great artist.” My reaction to that was, I will be the judge of that. Coming from a family of professional artists, I can be a little snooty about that sort of thing.

So Eli drove to our home to meet us one evening. He showed me some  beautiful work he had done for other clients, and we talked. For hours. Then we showed him some of Cedar’s artwork and told him a bit about our daughter. I could tell he really got it.

Eli proceeded to design a cover that both my husband and I fell in love with. He even let me help a little. (Several weeks later, he brought his computer over and we worked together on some of the font and layout ideas.)  It was Eli’s idea to feature Cedar’s artwork in my book. Brilliant! It was the finishing touch.

Eli is a talented young man, and I am already looking forward to my next project with him! Plus, he actually likes my weird vegetarian cooking!