Got Your Nose

Baby Puck playing with Daddy Tumnus. Did this same thing with my grandfather Dale Pope, I was always fascinated by his chiseled, elegant nose. So, as a wee thing, I thought, "oh, something cool, I must have it!"

Didn't really work out, but Mousie liked it.

Yes, I called and still call my maternal grandfather "Mousie," because as a less wee thing, I was playing a game of cat and mouse with my cousin while Grandpa dosed on the couch. I thought he was, anyway, with the racket the two of us were making I now realize there was no WAY he was able to sleep through it. Anyway, we decided to make him The Cat. We would sneak up on him and he'd crack open one bright piercing Peter O'Toole blue eye and I shrieked delightedly at him, "MOUSIE!"

The name stuck. A veteran of WWII Navy gunner, tough as nails farmer who took no crap off'a NO ONE and there was this four year old calling him Mousie all over creation. His friends didn't dare laugh, but I know they wanted to, but I also know for a fact he was and is proud of that nickname he got from his little buddy granddaughter.

So that's a look into what I was thinking when I drew this. My Mousie is still with us, my "Mouse Man," and I love him to Heaven and back. He's an amazing person, tells it like it is, no sugar or bullshit, strong willed, hard working and not afraid to crack jokes and smiles everywhere he goes and leaves people absolutely wetting themselves with laughter in his wake.

Puck belongs to Mel Mather/*unicorn-skydancer08.
Unknown Stock background used.
Art by Mandi Lily Pope, 2011.
Medium: Photoshop Elements 6.
Music: God's Gonna Cut You Down - Johnny Cash.