Forever Twenty-two

Today it's been two and a half years since Matt’s death. Coincidentally, just last week, after two and a half months, we got news from Tim McCarthy of McCarthy Fine Art and Design of Evergreen Park that the portrait of Matthew was finished.

The remarkable story is, last year when I was getting a picture for Lainee’s room reframed at his shop, I was quite taken with his exceptional works of art on display. So, I inquired whether he could do a portrait of Matthew and how much it would cost. He said he would love to, but he wanted to do it at no charge. I was overwhelmed at such a generous offer from a stranger. But he didn’t think of me as a stranger. He said, “You’re my neighbor.” So, our neighbor --who we didn’t know and who is amazingly talented --blessed us with what could be the most cherished memorial of Matthew yet.

This portrait captures his gentleness, sincerity, and the delight he found in the simplest things of life. Most of all, it gives us the adult portrait of him we didn’t have that will keep his memory alive for generations.