I look in the upper right hand comer, at the patriotic 'white bear,' and it reminds me of our grandson, Jeffrey, who left us at age 19. We miss him so' and the 'white bear,' a companion 'brown bear,' given me by Jeffrey also, keeps him always in my memory. Thank you, Jeffrey. Grandpa loves you.

The lighthouse in the upper left comer reminds me how much I love lighthouses. They are so much a part of the 'early American' scene. The real lighthouse, just like this, stands at Cape Neddick, York, Maine. I've used this lighthouse in several paintings.
The white, fluffy clouds thumb tacked above the lighthouse are there to give balance to the painting. Besides, who ever saw a lighthouse without clouds?

The ship just below Cape Neddick lighthouse is a figment of my imagination. I don't know if it would float, and I don't know if it would sail if it did float. But, artistically, it was the ship I wanted in my memory box.

The fish wagon to the ship's right is a cast iron toy. Before plastic, iron was popular. Plastic is great, but it will never equal metal for the making of toys, do you think?

SAILOR BEAR is holding the American flag. Like me, SAILOR BEAR is patriotic. We love America and we think it's the GREATEST country in the world. This flag was made when there were only 20 States in the Union. The 20 star flag was the third in flag design, and came into being in 1818. The 13 stripes remain constant, representing the original 13 colonies.

The scrimshaw in the center pocket is an artifact we purchased in Rockport, Massachusetts. Above the roof of the connecting building to the light tower, you'll see 'Leo LOVES Lenette.' I still do, after 55 years. All of the other do-dads are simply 'window dressing.' Marbles make beautiful 'window dressing.' They add color where you need it.

I hope you like looking at SAILOR BEAR WITH MEMORY BOX, as much as I enjoyed painting it. Thank you, and may God BLESS!