Thursday Art Salon - August 6, 2015

"Sweet Pea", mixed media on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Endearments are like frosting.  They make everything a little sweeter, a little creamer and more rich.  I had so many endearments I called my children when they were young...sweetie, little bits, pumpkin noodle, little man, smoochie poo - I could go on, but I can just see them rolling their eyes while reading this list. Why were they endearments and not nicknames?  Because they were filled with love. 

My husband calls me "sweet pea", and I think it is completely wonderful.  Emails, texts, birthday cards and love notes, all addressed to Sweet Pea.  I don't even know how this began, but somehow it has become one of the little lovelinesses in our relationship.  And it makes me feel sweet, even if I truly was not so sweet at all the moment before!

In the south, people toss around "honey" and "sweetie" like pennies - plentiful and cheap.  I don't get the same warm feeling when I stranger addresses me this way.  Why?  No love filling.  

My dad is an endearment user, especially with his dogs.  "Sweetie" can mean "you're such a good dog" one day and "aw geez why on earth did you do THAT?" the next.  But it is his way of sending love to the dogs no matter if they are being rewarded or disciplined.  And clearly they feel the love filling in his words.

Sometimes we use endearments to soften our words with friends and family, as if beginning the sentence "clean your room" or "take out the trash" sounds any less annoying if we begin it with "sweetie".  Hmmmm. Maybe I will save the love-filled endearments for love-filled sentences instead of chore demands.

So spend the day tossing out love-filled endearments to family and friends.  Just watch them smile and melt a little, feeling the day become so much better when frosted with love.

This piece is available.  Unframed.  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com