My mother-in-law, Joan Favors, had a birthday a few days ago. She’s been gone for awhile now but I always remember her day in August even though I divorced her son in the 1980s. We stayed in touch, and I knew she loved me. So when a dear friend gave me a bouquet of flowers on Joan’s b’day, I pulled out the lovely ceramic pitcher she gave me eons ago, as I wanted to honor her. Thus the subject matter for this painting. 

I can’t seem to help reflecting on my life and its various chapters and pathways, as I edge into my elder years. I feel like a freak most of the time as since the time of my divorce, when I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep because of night terrors, I’ve been a devotee of therapy and spiritual searches and meditation, wondering how much healing was possible in one’s life after growing up in a train-wreck of an unhappy and abusive family.

Today I’m happy to keep working at it, and have had good results. I’ve been fortunate to have had many guides and therapists and healers in my journey. I’m thankful, and I also honor my own hard work and participation and devotion to becoming whole. Life is full of adventures and losses and joyful surprises, and I’m all in and grateful to keep showing up. “Life is a feast, dahling,” Auntie Mame said, “and most poor fools are starving to death.”

12″ x 10″ watercolor, ink, acrylic, pastel on paper = $170