When Art Imitates Life

Okay. So. Like almost 2 years ago, I made my first OD icon for the 'rare icon' thread in the forums. It was aimzz and Koasati that encouraged me to submit them for the gallery and off I went. A month later and some 30 icons, Alternate Setting requested an icon for 'Folding At Home'. I had no idea what it was, but I made them.



Then it began. Alternate Setting (Andy) starts emailing me. For over a freaking year he harrases and tasks me! No. Just kidding. Really. Andy actually shared the icons with the folks at Folding At Home, who really liked them. What began was a year and a half long wait as Andy kept me up to date on weather or not the people in charge there would make them the 'official' icons or use them in some fashion for the project. Andy would send me updates, email them for info, and through it all has been steadfast in seeing it through. Myself, I was just flattered and honored (especially after I found out what Folding At Home was about) that my amateurish work was being looked at for such a purpose.

So, this past week. It was made official. Andy emailed me a jpg of what they were doing with the icon they selected from the pack.



Now, not wanting to sound ungrateful, I asked him if there was perhaps a 'bigger' image they were using or had posted. Only because I wanted to write a little something here and pat my own back as it were, but mostly brag that not only was it being used, but it was being used by such a great site and group of people. So, Andy went back to the emails and in a day sent me this link.

Folding At Home

WOW! This was cool. And an honor. What is so 'ironic', if that is the right word, is that during the time since I made the icon and it was finally accepted, I have been through a lot. Too much. When Andy contacted me this past week, I was trying to figure out how to best approach handling what I had just found out was cancer as well as several pre-cancerous lesions. I didn't answer Andy right away when he first emailed me this past week. It was too wierd and kind of a slap in the face from 'fate' or whatever.

Anyway..I wanted to share my joy over this little 'acknowledgment' I received for my effort on the icons. AS much as I like all that I have made, this one I will always be proudest of. More than that, I wanted to thank Andy. He is the one who shared them with the folks at Folding At Home. He also has tried to keep my spirits up and I honestly believed was just dangling the prospect of this icon being accepted, just to goad me on sometimes. lol. His emails and updates, since February of 2006, always seem to come at just the right time.

Thanks, Andy.