My Mistake Turns Into Something Meaningful

 After years of walking together on Saturday mornings, Fran and I are always looking for new ways to get in our 10,000 steps.  We heard there was a Village Art Walk in Carlsbad, so decided to go there.  Coffee at The Succulent Garden (I'll tell you about that another time) and then a walk around Carlsbad, sounded perfect for a beautiful Saturday morning.  The only trouble was, the art walk was on Sunday.  So, we never had our coffee at the Succulent Garden, but instead started on a nice walk around down Carlsbad Village Drive.

We were minutes into our walk, when we noticed a large group gathered in an empty lot next to Senor Grubby's restaurant.  I knew they weren't in line for that restaurant, so we went to find out what was going on.  At the Carlsbad Art Wall a very special mural was being painted in memory of Jack Munday.  Jack was a 16 year old Carlsbad resident that was killed in a roll-over car accident on Carlsbad Village Drive on June 27, 2020.  7 other teens were injured in the crash.  

The wall mural was designed by Bryan Snyder, founder of the Carlsbad Art Wall.  According to Bryan, the wall mural design was influenced by Jack's love of skateboarding, baseball, family and surfing, the art work he left behind as a youth, and Bryan's conversations with the family.  What a touching tribute to a young man who died so tragically.  I was lucky enough to talk to Jack Munday's younger brother for a few minutes.  He was tell me and Fran about his brother's love of surfing and music, and was so excited about the mural being erected in his memory.  

The outline of the mural was drawn ahead of time, and at 10:00am on a Saturday morning, the painting began.  Old, young, friends, strangers and family, all participated in the painting of the mural.  What a wonderful tribute to this young Carlsbad resident.

Next time you drive (or walk) down Carlsbad Village Drive, notice the mural on the side of the Senor Grubby's building.  I'm so happy that I had the date of the Village Art Walk wrong.  Otherwise, I never would have learned about the history behind this mural and young man memorialized in it.  I LOVE murals and knowing what's behind the mural makes it ever so much more interesting.