I did the above drawing probably in 1967.
Sun., June 30, 2019: Jennifer S. Leigh of the Town of Ocoee, Florida (near Orlando), writes to me via Facebook, saying this:
“I know this is random. I believe I may have a pencil drawing you created . . . I came across an old picture about 12 years ago. The frame broke and behind the picture being displayed, there was the most intricate pencil drawing I have ever held. It was tattered and torn. But I have kept it, in hopes that someday I could track down the artist. The paper that was with it says L. Steve Crain, with an address from Greer, and also BJU. So today I pulled it out again and started trying to track the artist down again. Pease let me know if it’s possible this could be you.”
I write, “Yes, Jennifer, that is me, I'm pretty sure. Thank you! Can you take a photo of the drawing and send it to me?”
She sends me a photo of the drawing.
“Yes, Jennifer,” I write, “that is my drawing, done while I was a student at Bob Jones University. I graduated in 1969 and worked as an art teacher at Woodmont High before going to the Army. I gave that drawing to _____ . . . . The two-tone shoes in that drawing were my dad's and that was his shoeshine box, which I still have. Jennifer, the family to which I gave that shoeshine drawing had an older daughter named ___ who married ____. He had a younger brother, a pastor, who went to Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He married a lady classmate. . . . I am trying to figure out the connection of how that frame and hidden drawing got to Florida.”
Jennifer writes, “I received the frame that it was hidden in from Apopka, Florida, around 12-15 years ago. I love that these items were so personal. What a great story, and travel the drawing has made. We live in a great time that we find someone from a name and address. How exciting. If you or your children (if you have any) would like to have this 50 year old drawing, I am willing to send it home to you.”
I write, “Jennifer, if you will, please send a photo of that drawing to my personal e-mail address . . . Thanks much! (I tell her I don’t want the drawing returned. She should keep it and enjoy telling the story behind it.)
Jennifer writes, “Such a small world. As I read through the above messages again, ___ and ___’s name stuck out. I know that I knew that name. I looked up ____ on FB and saw her and mother are friends, and the picture of her and ____ reminded how I knew them. ____ was the pastor of the church my mom taught at, she was a teacher in their Christian school. My two oldest children also attended there for a while. ____ was their music teacher. She passed away last year, I’m sure you know. Funny though, the picture didn’t come from my mom or directly from the _____s . It was picked up from a rental house we cleaned out in Apopka . . . .
I write, “Thank you, Jennifer. Yes, I knew ____ passed on. . . . Wow, what a story. I may use that in writing, sometime, if you don't mind. May I use your name, or do you want me use another name?
Jennifer writes, “I don’t mind, feel free to use my name. I love this story, these kind of things make my heart happy.”
