I love to paint pears. Maybe it’s the subtle colors. Not the vibrancy of a lemon, or an apple, no, somewhere in between. Calm. And a little more fragile than most. A lemon is so strong. Skin so tough, but not a pear. An apple. Sturdy. But a pear, it seems to need another pear. (And what a beautiful thing to need each other.) I almost always paint them together. One leaning against the other. One standing a bit stronger while the other rests. I love the image. I live the image. I hope we all do. We take turns in our strengths. In our weaknesses. And if we can stand beside each other — firm when we need to, gentle when we can’t, then we can artfully live the most beautiful lives. Beautiful. Still.

I wrote in my book, “friend” — “Thanks for abiding by the unwritten rule that only one of us can freak out at a time…and for allowing me the extra turns.” I have found a few pears in my life. What a gift! I’m waking up with two today!