AWhiteHorse.com™

My partner, Cheryl Wofford, was handling all the people, and I was smiling and disappearing into each project as thoroughly as possible to get everything done.

Screen printed shirts and my air-brush blank shirts were stacked around us, and families were straining to get closer to watch my brazen delivery of splashes of permanent colors being applied to pristine white shirts without any assistance - everything freehand, all "on the fly". The pressure was enormous, and my shoulders and wrists were burning from the hours of effort.

A lady in a pretty, sparkly top made it to the front of the crowd, and I could see the sparkles of her shirt out of the corner of my eye as I was working. I quickly looked away from my easel to see what she had tossed onto the table beside me. It was a folded shirt in a nice plastic package - and I could see it showing part of a very detailed painting of a pretty bay Morgan mare. All that was showing was the eye. Boy - what a nice detailed job on that eye - I could never do that - my style was too free and open - and I hate taking the time to do every picky detail.  "I would never be that good," I sadly thought.

I turned to the shirt on my easel. The lady started talking to my busy partner, and I suddenly heard her distinctive voice. I turned to my right, and looked up into her face. She was my client from yesterday. That was my own artwork on the packaged shirt.

My Mother had told me all my life, "You can do anything you set your mind to, Stacey - never forget that. You are as good as anybody else." The memory of her love and belief in me came flooding back. She had died when I was 16. But that moment, I could feel her words like a tangible force. Here was the truth, touching me in the heart. I could see how those doubtful thoughts were active - even in a positive person like me. What happened that moment, acted like a cure. I could finally see my own negative self-talk, and argue against it. I could finally believe the precious words of my mother.

When one of my four daughters expresses frustration over things, like "drawing as well as mom," I tell them this story. It's all in how you believe in yourself. My mother gave me the key - now I hope you may share it, too. - SM

*Robert, Joyce, (44), Martha, (10) and David Rank (8) perished in a drowning accident at Ozette Lake the summer of 1973. Robert Rank was a music teacher in the Kent, Washington School District and an outstanding concert organist. He was also the Organist for the University Congregational Church and earlier, the University Presbyterian Church, both of Seattle. His private students are successful concert organists to this day. Stacey's older sister, Una Stewart, now teaches Opera in Denmark, and is a published author of children's books. Stacey's younger sister, Randi Knox, (only survivor of the accident), is a UNIX systems administrator for Boeing in the Seattle area.  AWhiteHorse.com is dedicated to the legacy of our family - "You can do anything if you set your mind to it."  - Stacey Mayer, January 1, 1998.