catching my breath...

hello everyone!

How have you all been?

 I feel like i've been running a bit of a race lately,

so when i finally sat at the art table last night,
this is what i first painted.
I see a race theme... do you?

i've been busy with the new 9 to 5 job,

and much of my spare time seems to be spent

with driving my teenage son everywhere

(he's getting his license soon... YAY!),

with a father who is still adjusting to life without mom,

with family visits

and reading

and cleaning the house & making meals

and evening walks

and the occasional night out with friends.

...oh, and pondering life's big questions. 

i'm working at a job that i am grateful for,
but one that is making me realize
how much of an artist i really am
and how i will never fit in the 9 to 5 world.

At least not comfortably nor while keeping my sanity. :-)

I have a very low tolerance for bullshit
and there seems to be a lot of it in the business world today.

so i will continue to look at the stars,
thank you very much
and keep my focus on things that really matter to me.

i am reading a wonderful book called THE MEMORY PALACE
(by Mira Bartok)...

I love stories about people who have been through hell and back,
and still, choose to be good people,
and create good lives for themselves
and share their stories
so that others may not feel so alone.

There is a sentence in the book that jumped out at me:

"I know she's worried about me but i want her to understand

that William's and my creative projects mean more to me

than a pension plan or a brand-new car."

I could have spoken these words... :-)

So it felt very good to sit at the art table last night...

 acrylic paint on paper... with added pencil marks. 

 oh, and look! She added dots! Surprise! ;-)

 they sort of became abstract flowers eventually...

 but then i saw smiles and eyes... 

Yeah, i see smiles and eyes.  (do you?)

Maybe i need to get away from the 9 to 5 job
sooner than i think.
(giggle...)

Thank you to those who have sent me notes
to say hi and tell me you miss my art.
Made me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. :-)

Here's a little video that always makes me happy...
Wishing it does the same for you.

Thanks for being here.
xox