Our wonderfully talented Boston Marathon running friend, Paula Banks came bearing gifts. Gifts from the heart, gifts that brought tears of joy as one by one we unwrapped the parcel she handed us as we said good bye in Boston on Wednesday night. The three frames were stacked with our beloved Max on top. When I pulled back the brown paper it was as if Max was looking up at me again with his green eyes. Paula's skill in rendering his beautiful eyes is amazing, her talent is astonishing. We miss him so and there he was. The next unveiling was my darling chipmunk, Fyra. Sitting like the tame Chipmunk Queen she was on her favorite patio rock. As I unwrapped further, T said to me, "Nelson." She was absolutely correct. There was Nelson, looking in the door, tapping the glass for his peanuts, big eyed and handsome to a fault. We needed tissues as we marveled at Paula's uncanny ability to capture the essence of each little character, their furry little spirits on display again, here again to keep us company. It's a dreadfully dark and rainy day, but even laid out quickly for the shot on the living room floor, they lit up the room and my heart today. Thank you Paula for being our friend, we love you.
I retired from public school teaching after happily spending twenty eight years playing in Kindergarten. Now I fill my days watching cat antics, taking endless...
