Rutherford Weekly

Zack Freeman lost his father when he was a Zack Freeman lost his father when he was a young man. A freshman in college, and nowhere near young man. A freshman in college, and nowhere near becoming a parent himself, he grieved, along with his becoming a parent himself, he grieved, along with his sisters, for the man that had been such an influential sisters, for the man that had been such an influential figure in his life. "My dad did every thing he could to figure in his life. "My dad did every thing he could to make sure we had everything we needed," says Zack. make sure we had everything we needed," says Zack. "My grandmother told me, after he died, that he would "My grandmother told me, after he died, that he would 'go without' and 'make do' so he could take us to do 'go without' and 'make do' so he could take us to do things. We were always off on an adventure of some sort things. We were always off on an adventure of some sort either hiking or picnicking at state parks. Occasionally, either hiking or picnicking at state parks. Occasionally, there was the 'spur of the moment' beach trip when there was the 'spur of the moment' beach trip when he would pick us up from school on Friday afternoon, he would pick us up from school on Friday afternoon, bags already packed, and head to the beach, and bags already packed, and head to the beach, and sometimes, it was simply playing Frisbee in the yard sometimes, it was simply playing Frisbee in the yard just to get us up and out of the house." Zack recalls, just to get us up and out of the house." Zack recalls, "He would tell us to 'have fun and find the good' no "He would tell us to 'have fun and find the good' no matter what we were doing. He encouraged us to enjoy matter what we were doing. He encouraged us to enjoy everything we did, so now, I'm trying to pass that along everything we did, so now, I'm trying to pass that along to my kids. Whether it's playing a board game, cards, to my kids. Whether it's playing a board game, cards, kayaking, camping, or watching a movie together, it's kayaking, camping, or watching a movie together, it's all about keeping them active and open to trying new all about keeping them active and open to trying new things. We are always on the go, visiting new places things. We are always on the go, visiting new places and doing new things, which is what the book is about and doing new things, which is what the book is about -- finding the fun and excitement in everything you do -- finding the fun and excitement in everything you do by using your imagination." by using your imagination." The book Zack is The book Zack is referring to, 'Inside referring to, 'Inside the Imagination of the Imagination of a Little Boy', was a Little Boy', was conceived when conceived when Zack's young son, Zack's young son, Cole, became Cole, became frightened during frightened during a thunderstorm. a thunderstorm. "I got the idea a "I got the idea a few years ago few years ago when Cole was when Cole was in kindergarten. A in kindergarten. A big thunderstorm big thunderstorm came up and Cole came up and Cole was afraid of the crashing sounds outside. I reminded was afraid of the crashing sounds outside. I reminded him of all the things he does that made him much too him of all the things he does that made him much too brave to be scared of a little thunder. It was around brave to be scared of a little thunder. It was around that time that I started to list all of his stories and that time that I started to list all of his stories and sketch images of how I thought he saw himself. All the stories in the book came from comments Cole made, or how he saw things happening, like the little boy catching a whale." What began as a simple project for the two of them took on a life of it's own. "I originally thought I'd print a copy or two for myself and Cole but when my print a copy or two for myself and Cole but when my family and friends found out what we were doing, they family and friends found out what we were doing, they wanted a copy too, and it just snowballed into me self- wanted a copy too, and it just snowballed into me self- publishing the book." publishing the book." As an artist, Zack was able to illustrate the scenarios As an artist, Zack was able to illustrate the scenarios of his son's imagination. "I went through old pictures of of his son's imagination. "I went through old pictures of Cole to find references to paint from like him fighting Cole to find references to paint from like him fighting imaginary ninjas in the yard. The image for the front imaginary ninjas in the yard. The image for the front cover was from a photograph taken when he was jumping the speed bumps in the parking lot of the church across the street. I had to lie down to get the right perspective and hope I didn't get run over." When asked how Cole has responded to the book, Zack tells us, "He is excited about it and thought it was really cool that he had his own book and that he was the star. The first he was the star. The first thing he asked of me was thing he asked of me was to make sure I donated a to make sure I donated a copy to the library at his copy to the library at his school. In the future, school. In the future, I hope it's something I hope it's something he can look back on he can look back on and remember all the and remember all the great adventures we great adventures we had and the fun times had and the fun times we shared working on we shared working on the book and making the book and making it come to life... it has it come to life... it has helped us to get closer helped us to get closer as father and son, and as father and son, and as best friends." as best friends." Cole's little sister, Cole's little sister, Cora, is anxiously Cora, is anxiously awaiting her own awaiting her own book. "She is excited book. "She is excited that I will be making that I will be making a book for her as well. a book for her as well. She has been posing She has been posing for pictures and for pictures and sharing ideas with me sharing ideas with me about what she wants about what she wants in her book. I actually in her book. I actually 'sold' the first copy of 'sold' the first copy of Cole's book to Cora. Cole's book to Cora. As soon as we got it home from the printer, they both As soon as we got it home from the printer, they both asked for their own copy, and after giving Cora hers asked for their own copy, and after giving Cora hers she returned with $.44 cents saying, 'I want to buy the she returned with $.44 cents saying, 'I want to buy the first book, Daddy." first book, Daddy." Although Zack's father passed away long before Although Zack's father passed away long before the births of his grandchildren, his spirit and sense of the births of his grandchildren, his spirit and sense of adventure is alive and well preserved. The characteristics adventure is alive and well preserved. The characteristics he passed along to his only son are being gifted to his he passed along to his only son are being gifted to his grandchildren, and one would expect, will continue grandchildren, and one would expect, will continue for generations to come as Cole is now planning to for generations to come as Cole is now planning to write a book of his own. The delightful and humorous write a book of his own. The delightful and humorous stories told and illustrated in 'Inside the Imagination of a Little Boy," serve as a tribute to a father who obviously loved his children and sought to give them the ability to find great fun and adventure in even the simplest moments. Like father, like son -- passing down the gift of a vibrant the gift of a vibrant imagination cannot imagination cannot be measured... it is be measured... it is indeed, parenting, indeed, parenting, done right! done right! Zack has donated Zack has donated copies of the book to copies of the book to several libraries in the several libraries in the area. area. BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Lose up to 40 lbs in 40 Days * Our Propietary, Physician Supervised Weight Loss System: t Is Easy to Follow t Boasts an 88% Long Term Success Rate t Allows our patients to lose weight fast t Even works for patients who are diabetic, hypothyroid, or who have failed at every other weight loss system available. t Allows you to literally watch the fat melt off your belly and thighs... and maintain it for the rest of your life. "To Be Your Best... 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FLU SHOT NOW! 720 South Church St. Forest City 720 South Church St. Forest City Mon-Fri 9am-9pm; Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 1-6pm Mon-Fri 9am-9pm; Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 1-6pm 828-245-7274 828-245-7274 Hwy. 221A Caroleen Hwy. 221A Caroleen Mon-Fri 9am-7pm • Sat 9am-2pm Mon-Fri 9am-7pm • Sat 9am-2pm 828-657-5353 828-657-5353 BOTH BOTH LOCATIONS LOCATIONS Parenting, Done Right! Like Father, Like Son Article By: Cathy Alexander, Rutherford Weekly. Photos by: Zack Freeman. Article By: Cathy Alexander, Rutherford Weekly. Photos by: Zack Freeman. Complimentary Complimentary Zack Freeman, author and illustrator, Zack Freeman, author and illustrator, reading, 'Inside the Imagination of a Little reading, 'Inside the Imagination of a Little Boy' to Cole, (left) and Cora Freeman. Boy' to Cole, (left) and Cora Freeman. "Every time we went "Every time we went fi shing, Cole would put fi shing, Cole would put up the biggest fi ght - he up the biggest fi ght - he just knew there was a just knew there was a whale on the other end. whale on the other end. When the hook came When the hook came back empty, he would back empty, he would say how 'crafty' it had say how 'crafty' it had been to get off the hook been to get off the hook at the last minute." at the last minute." "To a little boy, nothing "To a little boy, nothing is impossible. is impossible. His imagination is so big His imagination is so big and creative, nothing is and creative, nothing is off limits... Even fl oating off limits... Even fl oating down a river of milk on a down a river of milk on a giant doughnut." giant doughnut."

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