Granny Diane Paints

"WHEN I GET TO BE OLDER"

A PICTURE STORY BOOK FOR ALL THE KIDS

WHO PAINTED WITH ME

MY CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Written and illustrated by Diane Widler Wenzel

Edited by Granddaughter, Madisen Oliver

Inspiration for first painting of Lone Dancer

Poet and author of FAIRY CHRONICLES Joanne H. Sweet

Diane Widler Wenzel reserves all copy rights

A dream of taking time for myself

I painted dreams of

when I get to be older.

I turned my head from people who said,

"Oh Granny Diane, old age is lonely

especially for painters who paint alone."

I just went ahead and painted a dream

of taking time for myself to paint.

Dreams of me dining

I painted dreams of me

dining with friends.

A dream of sharing memories

I painted a dream of grandpa and me

remembering our pets.

I painted a dream of holding hands

I painted a dream of holding hands
walking upright on slippery ice.

A dream of me planting a tree

I painted a dream of me

planting a tree

for my great grandchildren.

A dream of sitting in the family tree

I painted a dream of me sitting

in the family tree warming us

like a wool blanket.

A dream of messages

I painted a dream of me

sending and receiving messages.

A dream of me swinging

I painted a dream of me swinging

to an imaginary ocean

where my Grandfather Emile's vase is my ship

and my paint is the wind in my sails.

A dream of pouring colors

A dream of me gardening

I painted a dream of me gardening

in a green house where

the book of my life blossoms.

My 64th birthday.

It is my 64th birthday.

No longer do I paint dreams

of what I want when I get to be older.

I am giving myself these dreams now.