It’s fitting, the way it all fits into the eloquent depth of it all. One of your greatest qualities is your interest. You cannot be disinterested in creating - whether it be with food, gardening, the spaces you share with others, the care you have provided, the way you carry a conversation. The way you are in the world is powerful, sparklingly magnetic, and rarely if ever understated. You have an unfailing vision and a tenacity to hang onto that vision for the long haul. A challenge really just spurs you on. Often selflessly, you give yourself to others and more often than not - this characteristic is the greatest factor in both the highest of highs and lowest of lows throughout this life. 

The brightest, most blazing gold lights can illuminate without measure and simultaneously cast the most expansive depths of shadow. For every movement and color within this makeup, there is also a stark opposite challenging the space it takes up to stay. This is the same duality that makes up the force behind your unique self-expression - the intensity of emulating the details and refinement of everything and its opposite. 

You like to be 100 steps ahead, with an intended solution for the six hundred and seven problems you have already thought of might they arise. This creates a complex dichotomy of courage and triumph versus stress and apathy- the propensity to heal and change lives with the love in the spaces that you create. It is very easy for you to fall into only experiencing the stress and friction of the extreme duality of your nature. By slowing down, and taking moments to be present you will better allow yourself to feel and believe all of the love and beauty that you create for those around you. I hope that when you gaze into this canvas you can re-experience all of the care and support you have given, but as you study this portrait turn all of that compassion back onto yourself. 

This painting, in all of her solid gold love, pops of light and magnetic, all-encompassing depth is to me, a portrait of you. The silver lines throughout that appear to be emerging from the shape of a glittering man represent all of your thoughts, ideas and talents that have guided you into your life experiences and lessons. They span out in every direction, cutting through every aspect of duality equally. They are fine lines, not straight lines, and each has a solid silver lining. 

The silver lining is who you get to be today, in this moment, and all of the spirits around you seen and unseen that benefit from the focus, imagination, and enthusiasm you bring into every aspect of what you create. You don’t even need to know exactly what that is yet - just keep being the best you to the ones you hold the most dear and the path will appear. Likely not solid or silver at first, but eventually radiant, precise, and illuminated in every direction. 

Thank you for the opportunity to focus on and experience who you were and who you are. I am so happy for the beautiful life, love and space you and Cory have built together. Someday I am coming over for gnocchi with vodka sauce and to see that garden if it’s the last thing I do.