I was having dinner at a local restaurant with my friend, Mauryn. In the middle of a story, she catches a man’s eye across the room. Her eyes widen, and her mouth drops open in delighted

surprise: “What are YOU doing here?!” Her husband was the unexpected vision across the room. He and a friend had chosen the same spot to get a drink at the bar. After about five minutes of conversation, we waved farewell to them as they sauntered over to the bar. This painting was born of the feeling I got from watching that short interaction. I was so struck by their connection, friendship, and the genuine excitement this little surprise evoked from each of them. I asked Mauryn to send me her favorite photo of the two of them together. I hung that photo on my wall beside a large blank canvas, which I walked past daily for weeks. Occasionally my right brain sent me ideas, images that would capture the essence of what they felt like together, and what it felt like to be in their presence. The end result is a lively, colorful, playful, whimsical, unique, grounded, graceful, loving and safe partnership. May we all be so fortunate.