DetroitPainter

[rowyn]

I don't know why he first showed up in my journal. I'm not even quite sure when; sometime last September, I'd guess. He posted some comment or other, and I followed him back to his journal to see who he was. At that point, I didn't know if "DetroitPainter" was a man or a woman, or if that name indicated an artistic bent, or a metaphorical one, or that he was a housepainter, or something else. One of the first posts I saw by him was a picture of his daughter, Violet. I can't find that post now, but if memory serves, he wrote under it, "I was thinking of putting it into darkpinupgirls but I don't know if it meets their theme or not." I don't know, either, but she is beautiful. And it struck me as an endearing thing to say about one's daughter. I suppose all parents think their children are beautiful. Nonetheless.

The "painter" part of "DetroitPainter" is, indeed, literal: he not only paints, but he paints beautifully. (Did you ever finish that painting?) Like so many of us, he juggles many hobbies and responsibilities, and I suspect he doesn't paint as much as he'd like to.

He writes with abundant affection for all the things that occupy his time: for his children, for his wife, for his religion, for his friends, for his religion, for his music, for his cars -- and even for his work, if not for all the particular details of his job. This recent essay not only explains a bit of engineering jargon in a way even I could understand, but uses it as a metaphor regarding life and Christianity. While he is not afraid to state his beliefs, he is not, in my experience, given to diatribes against either people or ideologies, which makes it even stranger that his journal has been recently graced by trolls.

But I have never seen a response to a troll as graceful, or sincere, or gentle, as his.

It's a pleasure knowing you, DetroitPainter. Thank you for coming into my life.

Comments

[level-head.livejournal.com]

He is, indeed, a good fellow. That particular troll was strange indeed; her journal suggests a very young person with no apparent connection -- and no trace of justification.

It's interesting how much you can come to know a person through their writings. As you and I have discussed, there's a "best behavior" effect that is often involved, though from the appearance of some journals you'd have to hope that it's not always true.

But DetroitPainter -- an excellent musician as well as artist, by the way -- has revealed much of himself and his thinking through his journal entries. The result is quite attractive, and I have been very pleased to come to know him.

Sometimes I wonder though if I have the clams to get into an Anglican Beach Party...

===|==============/ Level Head

<blush>

[detroitfather.livejournal.com]

That is about the nicest thing anyone has written about me ... certainly the nicest on LJ. Thank you for taking the time to do that; it means a lot to me. I have a similarly high opinion of you.

I can't remember what post of yours I read first, or how I found it, but I knew from the onset you were a writer (like my wife), and in your icons you look a bit like her, so maybe that's why I asked to be friended. I remember fondly your posts about your fellow bus travellers! You posted those shortly after I'd discovered you.

I remember that post of my daughter; I think it was actually darkpinupgirls I was going to post the picture in ... which was a pun of sorts, since I would have been meaning a different thing by "dark" than is meant in that Community.

I am glad I found you too, rowyn. Thanks for being a friend.

Re: <blush>

[rowyn]

I fixed the link in my entry to "DarkPinupGirls". :) I see you've deleted your LJ. I'd like you to know that I'm sorry to see you go, and that you'll always be welcome in my journal, if you're still reading. I'm not sure if you'll see this or not. But if you'd like to email me some time, you can reach me to rowyn at livejournal dot com.

Take care. *hug*

Re: <blush>

[detroitfather.livejournal.com]

I did get your message.

I am just gone temporarily. I am fixing up all my LJ entries to be "Friends Only", plus taking a bit of time to cool off from my recent dramatic episode, and perhaps re-evaluate the way I express myself to people in certain situations.

I should be back around the end of the month.

Phew!

[rowyn]

I'm pleased to hear you plan to come back. That strikethrough on your LJ name is oddly depressing to look at. :) I hope the hiatus does you good. *hug*