The first time Jennifer came to visit me in Napa, we visited St. Helena. After touring the shops & tasting olive oils, we shared a box of Woodhouse chocolate on a park bench in front of Main Street art gallery. It was there that this parrot tulip painting caught her eye. As we looked at this flower which seemed like a flame, she asked the shop girl what the price was. Well, I guess in jeans and tee shirts we seemed unlikely clients! The shop girl looked over her glasses, down her nose and asked if she was serious. Jennifer just beamed her brilliant smile & gave her very friendly reply: "Yes, please - I'd like to know how much."
I whispered to her that I would paint that for her when the shop girl quoted a price of $3,000. I'd not painted since falling apart both mentally and physically the year before. Jennifer was my best friend and had been there for me through all of my problems. When my own family had not been supportive, when I was fighting G.E. & the VA for my disability; she was the only person who cared & encouraged me to hang in there.
I gathered the materials and began to paint, sending her daily updates as the canvas evolved. She still didn't "get" that this was her painting-not mine. Once finished, I told her I'd bring her flower to her once it dried. This was her reply to me:
Gina,
Are you serious? It's mine?! I noticed you wrote
something about "your flower" a while back, but I
thought you meant you saw it while we were together
and I inspired you to paint it. But mine mine? Well
get your damn ass out here and deliver it to me then!
I thought the pictures were great - I want to see it
in the flesh, smell it, gently feel your brush strokes
with the pads of my fingertips...
I am truly flattered and very excited. No one has ever
painted anything for me. And this! Awesome. Thank you,
Gina. Now, seriously, get your ass out here :)
Seeing how happy that painting had made her, the way she lit up when we saw it. I was inspired to paint that for her and to always look for ways to make her smile or laugh. To me, that was the real art - her excitement for life, the way she laughed and smiled. Making her happy was my favorite thing to do, searching for small ways to repay her for the many gifts of friendship and love that she showed me.
I miss you & love you Jennifer, always.