It has been a week since Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast and it has been a week since I last heard from Tom Hachtman, the incredible illustrator of my GertrudeandAlice picture book.
Tom by Tom (2011)
Tom and his wife and mother-in-law live in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. not far from the ocean. They have been in my thoughts all week. A mutual friend has tried to reach them via phone, but has not been successful and closed his last e-mail to me with – “I will let you know if I get any news.”
Me by Tom (2011)
I know that the pictures online and those on TV only tell part of the story and just as in the case of Hurricane Katrina, any of us who have never seen or lived through this kind of devastation, have really no idea of what it must be like. (I have not been able to fathom the destruction that my parents witnessed during World War II and their ability to move to a foreign land and start over with 3 young children in tow. I don’t think I’d have it in me to do the same.)
Berlin, 1945
Tom has a thing about redheads. ( I don’t recall him ever telling me how this came about.) Every morning he sends an e-mail to his list of friends of his latest redheaded find – movie star, model, famous painting, etc. He must have a collection of several hundreds of these. The last one was sent weekend before last, as he wasn’t sure how much longer they would have power.
From time-to-time I sent him redheads that I’d find online or in magazines and even sent him a redheaded Gertrude that I created from a picture postcard.
Tom, Joey and Myrna my thoughts are with you, your families and your neighbors. Please know that I’m here to help in whatever way I can.
Missing you and your redheads!
PS
November 6th:
The first redhead du jour arrived early this morning and here she is:
