“I’ll have to reinvent myself,” said Paul Whelan to Andrea Mitchell when she asked him what was next for him. Mr. Whelan was held prisoner in Russia on false spying charges, and was released earlier this year and I cried watching the footage of him landing and being greeted by Pres. Biden; Biden unpinned the American flag from his own suit lapel and put in on the shirt of this newly-freed hostage.

Loved hearing those inspirational words — in that short statement there is hope, faith, confidence and belief. As I navigate my storms of grief (no comparison to Mr. Whelan’s ordeal), looking to what is next in life is giving me little sparks of hope. There is much living yet to do. I endeavor to embrace this chapter in my life with the open-hearted trust of a curious child.

[I enjoyed the Bay Area Models Guild Marathon Sunday at the College of Marin]

14″ x 10″ watercolor, ink on paper