A FATHER'S DAY SUGGESTION....

Are you looking for a unique gift for Father's Day? Do you have a father or a husband that is a baseball fan? You might be interested in this unique, limited edition poster created by my graphic designer brother, Josh Harwell. It features my grandfather, Ernie Harwell's famous poem on baseball. I am including an excerpt here written by my brother that explains his love for baseball and the poster in his own words:

“I guess what I love the most about the game though is all the memories of my childhood and the connection it has for my family. My grandfather, Ernie Harwell, had the privilege of calling the Detroit Tiger games for 42 years, so I grew up listening to him, going to games with him and loving all things baseball.
One of the many perks of my baseball family is that Grandpa was always giving us baseball related items that he received. One such item was the album Terry Cashman’s "Talking Baseball". My brother and I listened to this for hours on end, and I can still sing you most of the songs word for word.
You see, wedged in between all the wonderful baseball songs on this album was my Grandpa reading his definition of baseball. (I can also still quote this… just ask my wife!) I loved listening to this poem/essay, and last summer, when Grandpa was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, I instantly knew I wanted to make a piece of art from that essay as a tribute to him.
I really enjoyed creating this piece of art. It was a privilege to create something special for a man who was always giving of himself to others, and I put all of my heart and soul into it. I really debated about offering this poster for sale, but I decided that in the end it was something I wanted to share with all those who loved baseball and my Grandpa. He enjoyed sharing his life and love of the game with everyone, so a poster in tribute to him should be about just that.
The 18 x 24 poster is pictured in the heading of this post. It’s limited first edition signed and numbered by myself and printed on 80# cover. If you are interested in purchasing one you can find them on my Etsy site.”

MY GRANDPA......

ERNIE HARWELL

January 25th, 1918 - May 4th, 2010

My grandfather passed away earlier tonight. He is now at peace and out of his pain. He had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer last August and had made it to his 92nd birthday in January and beyond, lasting longer than he or anyone else had expected.

I am so happy for him - he was very ready to leave and confident of his destination and the peace and joy that awaited him in heaven.

He was a great man AND a gentle man and proved beyond a doubt to so many that the two are not mutually exclusive. He taught me many things by his words and example and the legacy he left to me was something far beyond his public persona and accomplishments. I  love you, Grandpa! I am looking forward to seeing your beautiful clear blue eyes once again in a far better place.....

HAPPY 92ND BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA!

(photo by Bilde)

I just wanted to send out my very heartiest and most sincere "Happy Birthday" to my beloved Grandfather on his 92nd birthday!! As some of you know from this post, it's an extra special blessing that he is still with us and I want him to know just how much I love, appreciate and admire him for the exceptional human being that he is, both in public and private. I am so proud of you, Grandpa, and sending you all my love on your special day!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS & SUPPORT

My beloved Grandpa

Me, Grandpa and Grandma

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have written with your support for me and my family as it was publicly announced today that my grandpa, Ernie Harwell, has been diagnosed with incurable cancer. The last few weeks have been a tough time, as we learned of his condition and prognosis. It's so difficult to imagine life without someone who has always been such a strong and loving presence in my life. I am just grateful to have had him all of these years and want to cherish his remaining days. Grandpa remains his ever positive and inspiring self, reassuring us all that he has total peace, knowing that this path will lead him into the place he longs to be - God's presence. Thanks to all of you for your thoughtfulness, prayers and support - it means more than you know. And Grandpa......I love you more than I can say and could not be prouder of you than I am now!!

HAPPY 91ST BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA!

My grandfather when he was a little tyke, growing up in Atlanta, Georgia

Grandpa, me and his dog Bootsie back in the early 80's. Bootsie was a strong, willful mutt and when scrawny little me tried to walk her, it turned into skiing on cement.

A recent photo

A statue of Grandpa at Comerica Park in Detroit

This photo typifies Grandpa. He has an infectious laugh and a great attitude toward life.

I want to wish my Grandpa, Ernie Harwell, a very Happy 91st Birthday today. He is an amazing human being, legendary sportscaster and a wonderful grandfather. I am hoping I take after him - although even at my age it's tough to keep up with a guy like Grandpa. He works out at the gym daily in addition to jumping rope 300+ times, is sharp as a tack and seems to have boundless energy and enthusiasm for life.

I can still remember him good-humoredly driving us to school in his beret, robe and slippers or the times we'd come over and listen to his latest song on his reel-to-reel recorder. I also remember his Motown albums, rousing organ solos, piles of newspapers and all of the Detroit Tigers tube socks and t shirts in the basement. Going to visit he and my grandma was a total media immersion experience, long before the Internet ever came into play. He somehow managed to read a newspaper, watch TV, and listen to the radio, all while carrying on a conversation with everyone in the room. Grandpa had endless patience with his grandchildren and never seemed to get uptight or resent it when we poked around his office, made a lot of noise or tested how many revolutions we could do on his rotating chair before it came to a complete stop.

By far, though, the things I admire most about him are his devotion to God, warmth, sense of humor, loyalty and commitment to his family. Grandpa, I love you very much and am so grateful for the example you have set and the privilege I have been given to have you for my grandfather. I certainly hope you are with us for many years to come! Viva la Ernie!

HAPPY 67TH ANNIVERSARY TO A SPECIAL COUPLE!

My grandparents together in the early 40's when my grandfather was a Marine.

Tomorrow is my grandparent's 67th Anniversary. Quite a milestone! They are two of the most kind and generous people you will ever meet. I want to wish them a very happy anniversary and thank them for the wonderful and loving example they have been to all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I feel so blessed to have had them in my life for so many years. They still lead active lives at 90 and 89. They are an even better pair now then they were all those years ago! Love you, Grandma and Grandpa!

I hope you all have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

THE SWAN HOUSE

The Swan House - an Atlanta landmark - designed in the 1920's by famed architect Philip Trammell Shutze for the Inman family of Atlanta. I have spent many enjoyable outings here in years past when I lived in Atlanta. The grounds and house are beautiful and it's definitely a place well worth visiting for both it's design value and historical significance.

Atlanta is a place that holds special ties for me and my family. My grandfather's family has strong roots there in the Druid Hills/Westminster area and at Emory University. One of my great uncles, Lauren Foreman, was a founding member of the High Museum of Art, and another uncle, writer and historian Richard Barksdale Harwell, was on the board of the Atlanta Historical Society, which is housed on the grounds of the Swan House now. My grandfather, Ernie Harwell, grew up there and one of his first jobs was as Margaret Mitchell's (author of Gone with the Wind) paperboy. After graduation from Emory, he went on to write for the Atlanta Constitution and the Sporting News and later joined WATL radio as a broadcaster for the minor league baseball team, the Atlanta Crackers. He eventually left Atlanta when he was traded for a minor league pitcher to the Brooklyn Dodgers to be their broadcaster. At the time of their move to NYC, my dad was only 2 years old. Many years later, when I was a teenager, my dad's job brought him back to suburban Atlanta, where our family lived for almost 20 years. My great-grandparents house is still standing on Clifton Road, just down from Emory and my late great Aunt Noni's house in Ansley Park (midtown) was lovingly restored by her son, Barksdale, a retired Coca-Cola executive. He still lives there with his wife, Mary. Both of my brothers live in suburban Atlanta with their families. So, even though I no longer am a resident, I guess you could say Atlanta is still a place with strong ties for me.

So, when I saw the post that Anna Clisdell of Sydney, Australia had written on this house, I took special interest in it and couldn't resist leaving a comment. I met Anna through her blog Villa Anna. She responded and approached me about painting the house for her. Of course, I was delighted and it was a special joy to paint a place that held some very special memories for me. Anna is a warm and lovely woman who made the commission process a great experience. You can read her post on it here.