In Memory of Claude Anderson

 

 

This photo was taken at the Gorge Bridge outside of Taos New Mexico. Two years earlier, following Claude’s death, Claude’s son Jean Claude and family friend Amy scattered his ashes from a beautiful urn Claude had fashioned himself. I was honored to carry the urn upon my lap from the funeral home and place it for viewing in his Studio Blue on Paseo St. in Oklahoma City. Hundreds of people came to his wake and services and paid respects to a great man and Artist.

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         It had been almost two years since the day of his passing and Amy, Matt and I went to the bridge to pay our respects. We picked sage and Matt had found a bright orange lily, which he'd given me earlier in the day. Reflecting on Claude's great contributions to the Art community and to me personally as a great friend, I threw the lily to the place where his ashes were tossed.

A man wearing a black hat, black shirt, and black pants was singing on the other side of the road as we were leaving. We had seen him in Taos earlier in the day, and Matt had given him a picture he had drawn. The man smiled and yelled, "Lisa! Amy! Matt! You have no idea how happy you three have made me today, happier than any song I can sing!" He then yelled that he liked my walking stick. I replied "It has been a good one for sure!" I glanced at my stick as the wind furiously lapped at my eagle feather, mounted at the top of the stick... I remembered that I had placed Claude’s eagle feather with him prior to cremation. I paid careful attention not to let the wind take the feather from my stick.

Later that evening as we recounted the events of the day, I glanced at my stick. The feather was gone! I had not let it out of my sight. I was bewildered as to the fate of my feather. We passed the small town of Eagles Nest.

“The eagles have reclaimed their feather,” I thought ... and also the soul of a great friend.

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For photos of Claude and one of his paintings, along with a remembrance of the man, go here: http://mshadow.com/Stories/claude.htm

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