As Jay said, when I told him what was wrong "Well, now you've got something to write about!" Jay doesn't understand me at all, but he totally gets me, which is much more important.
Here's the thing: people die all the time. In the last three years, we've lost five of our dear friends. We've reached the age where this happens. I can deal with that. In fact, as a Christian, I don't really believe in death. I mean, yes, I know the body dies but death just isn't a thing. It's not.
The wanton destruction of a work of art is not a part of the natural progression. That is what infuriates me. Rob Thomas (a curse upon his head) did to his own story what an amateur painter did to Elias Garcia Martinez's 'Ecco Homo'.
But life goes on!
Rick, my painting instructor, is finally back in town and ready to get back to work, after spending the summer traveling the world and ignoring those of us who are his students.
Normally, Autumn around here is the most gorgeous time of the year but this has been a strange year. Like last year, it never really stopped raining. I don't recall a time when the lakes and creek were has high in September as this year. It's lovely but I worry that storms will strip the leaves from the trees before they reach peak color. When you live where there are four seasons, it's infuriating when one of them zips by in the blink of an eye. Also, we only have a few weeks left to paint outside (2 months if we're really lucky) so the constant rain, cooler than average temperatures and unrelenting wind are a drag.
Last week, we got outside to paint and it was great. This week, it was really windy, with intermittent rain, so we painted in studio instead. It was also great but not quite as fun as outside.
A week or so ago, Katie, Josie and I took BoopityBoop for a walk around the lake and lo and behold: Hershey's had a big food truck near the bandstand, giving out free S'mores!
I'm not sure BoopityBoop have had S'mores before. Boopity was very suspicious. She examined hers carefully, poking at the melted marshmallow oozing out the sides. I had to demonstrate to her that it was a delicious treat and she would love it before she actually picked it up and took a bite. Boop, on the other hand, immediately reached into hers, yanked out the melted chocolate bar and inhaled hers, one element at a time. then she ate the marshmallow I had not yet toasted for mine. I didn't mind. I just ate my graham cracker chocolate sandwich and rolled with it.
This week, Jay and I had a chance to spend a day with Boopity on her own. We had a blast. Jay took her to the park in the morning and they had a wonderful time. In the afternoon, I played with her outside, inside, we watched Tarzan because I can't find my copy of the Greatest Showman, which is was her first choice. We tried to take a nap but that turned into tent of toys instead. Katie picked her up after work and Jay and I both slept like babies. I slept for over 9 hours and Jay got up an hour after I did!
School is back in session and the world keeps turning, even if it's going a bit too fast for me.