It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the news these days, but the world honored Dolly Parton, bringing a glimpse of hope and unity. This lady, who once started as a poor little hick from Tennessee, gave so much of herself with kindness and laughter, even when the world felt chaotic.
The Circle of Inspiration
My mom loved music—loudly. She would dance to it, sing it, or call someone to share it as it blared through the phone or made the whole house shake. The last blast she ever played was, “I Will Always Love You.”
As I looked closer at the incredible women in my family, that circle of inspiration naturally grew to include my sister. She has spent the last seven years fighting a relentless uphill battle for her health, facing challenges that would have caused many to give up. Yet, she kept fighting fiercely for her own truth. Today, she is on the mend: her medical team is in absolute awe of her healing as she steadily returns to her true passion behind her camera lens.
As the calendar turns to October, my heart turns to my beautiful niece, Sami, who left us far too soon at just 27. Sami faced intense personal health battles, yet she remained a beautiful, bright, and sweet girl who was determined to pursue a path in the medical community. She always carried a butterfly keychain I gave her attached to her backpack. Her memory completely floods my heart, reminding me of her ultimate slogan: “Fight like a girl.”
True Grit and Common Grace
All these amazing women—my mom, my sister, Sami, and Dolly herself—shared a powerful, common attitude. No matter the mountains in front of them, they lived with a deep kindness, a fierce respect for others, and a relentless drive to do the best they could. They proved that nothing should ever be taken for granted.
This moment of deep reflection gave me the exact vision for this sculpture. It was an ambitious project for my limited disability and definitely stretched my very little experience sculpting clay. But I was up for the challenge to honor these amazing gals.
Turning Clay Into Stories
The sculpture needed to be a vibrant butterfly—resembling Dolly’s iconic coat of many colors and finished with a touch of bling—resting atop a book to honor her legendary childhood literacy work.” While my vision definitely evolved through many moments of doubt and anxiety, it turned out pretty good!
It is currently on display at the Northport Art Association exhibit this month.
It can’t change the global chaos, but it can stand as a physical glimpse of hope, true grit, and a smile. May we all blare the music a little louder, add a little more bling to the dark corners, and love like a butterfly.
