I listened to Funhouse by the Birthday Party and young Nick, clutching a microphone, is crying. In fact, the painting is crying. I thought about that painting for months and penciled in the outlines weeks ago, but then I didn’t feel it. Today I felt it, and it took 5 minutes to finish. Literally, 5 minutes. I knew I wanted the style to be raw. I just didn’t know I wanted it that raw.

What did that guy at Caulfield Grammar say to you? “Sit down, Cave. We’ve heard all about you!” I’ve been taught by and taught with people like that. I’ve also been taught by and worked with pretty decent folks, and some wonderful people who inspired me throughout my life.

But all of us are so flawed, Nick. So very, very flawed! So average, ordinary, and simply as we were created: insecure, overbearing, spiteful, overwhelmed, distracted, hyper-focused, well meaning, fluffy, off-the-charts stupid, righteous, fair, mean, all-knowing, skeptical, 'hyperbolic', kind to a fault, uncaring, fucked up, tired, energetic, funny, unfunny, and more often than not, poorly prepared for what life throws at us and underwhelming in our responses. Some of us are naturally sporty, musical, arty, maths geniuses, or good spellers. However, hardly anyone is a good human being with a party trick that holds true in life.

If we, and I mean all grown ups, have a saving grace, it is the fact that our kids get to interact with a range of people. Many of us would like to do better — to be better. We have simply forgotten how to do that and all that technology in our modern world will not help us remember.

You help me remember!

Cordula