For Dee

Two and a half years ago, I met my friend Dee. We met at a shoebox party. There we were,
crafting the day away, in different rooms of a mutual acquaintance's home, when I noticed Dee
was wearing a Harley-Davidson sweatshirt. I told her I like her sweatshirt and that we should
be friends. She thought I was weird! Knowing her as well as I do now, I know what that look meant.

We exchanged numbers, and I thought, heck, she'll never call me. But she did. We ended up getting together to go stamp store shopping in a town about 30 miles away. We had a good time. Had lunch, got to know each other and it just felt good to be around her.

She invited me to go to a stamp convention with her, then to her house for another shoebox party to celebrate her birthday. She found out mine was three days later, and she included me in her celebration. We've been buds, ever since. Our daughters are about the same age, they too, like to do the same type of art and we just have a great time.
Dee always makes me the most wonderful gifts for all occasions that call for one. Her books are wonderful and she just has a great time making all sorts of different types of books and holders for fun things. Not always being sure of my own talent and art, I've been very hesitant to make her too many things. I made her a Christmas house for that holiday this year, and she loved it, so
I thought I would try my hand a something I really like to do, collage. This is what I made her this year for her birthday. I made it to match her new studio. She loves her gift, and I'm thrilled
that she does. Her friendship has meant the world to me. I feel very fortunate.

This is paper, paints and ribbon on canvas.

Life has regained some semblance of normalcy. We are better!

Now I can get on with life in general and my art.
To kick start this, I'm going to join in on ' pay it forward blog project'.

As part of the deal, in order to participate, I am offering this on my blog...I get something from someone with a promise to pass along the thought, so here are the rules:

The first 5 (five) people to respond will get something made by me.

This offer does have some limitations and restrictions, so please read carefully.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2. What I make will be just for you, with love.
3. It'll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any idea what it will be. I will not give hints. It will be something handmade by me and will be a real tangible thing. It may very well be kooky or strange.
5. I reserve the right to make it as strange as I like, if I so desire.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) and make 5 (five) things for the first 5 (five) folks to respond.
7. Send me your mailing address--after I contact you. I MUST have a way to contact you. If you are on blogger, please make sure you have your email address in your profile. Please make this as easy on me as possible, I am a very busy woman these days.

Important: This offer is null and void if I do not see your post on your blog to pay this forward.

The loss of a my brother

The picture to the right of this space is a picture of my
baby brother, Ernie and I in Monterey CA, 1955.
He always made me laugh. He was so funny when he
was little. Always had some way to entertain us.
We were such good friends, growing up. He changed when
he became a teenager.
We had a rough time at home and we relied on each other
for support, on a daily basis.

Yesterday was by far the worse day of my life.
I received a phone call from my sister-in-law, Jackie.
My brother had taken his own life the night before.
He was only 57, but he was a tortured soul and had
been, most of his life.
My heart is broken. Not only because he's gone, but
because there was nothing anyone could do. He wouldn't
help himself and any help we tried to give him, he rejected.
I could tell he was going deeper and deeper into depression.
Most of it brought on by alcohol abuse, an abusive relationship
with a girlfriend (he and his wife were estranged).

Hey, Ern, what was so terrible that you couldn't hang on and
make things work out? What was so wrong that it couldn't be
fixed? What was so wrong that you couldn't call me and let me
talk you out of what you did?

I will miss you so much. I can't believe you won't call me this week
and tell me about work or about your plans to move.
And we had just begun to be friends, again. Now its gone. I have
no brother, Julie has no uncle, and Jackie has lost her best friend.

Our hearts are broken, and are lives left in pieces, because
you are gone.

Be at peace, little brother, be at peace.
I love you,
Sis