

I AM SITTING OUTSIDE THE BECKET ARTS CENTER. A COOL BREEZE BRUSHES AWAY THE HUMID HEAT OF AN AUGUST DAY. INSIDE MY FRIENDS ARE HANGING THEIR WORKS OF ART- COLLAGE AND PAPERCUT OUT ART- IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR ART EXHIBIT.
THE ARTISTS-MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, ARE NOT ONLY EXCITED BUT UNDERSTANDABLY ANXIOUS AS WELL. THE HUSBAND -FATHER IS RIGHTFULLY PROUD AND THRILLED, A BIT ON EDGE HIMSELF. I CAN FEEL ONLY PLEASURE AT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THESE SPECIAL FRIENDS. I HAVE LENT A HAND, 'SCHLEPPING' OBJECTS OF SOME WEIGHT. MY FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND VISUAL ACUITY LEAVE A GREAT DEAL TO BE DESIRED.
I SIT BACK AND WITNESS THE BEAUTY ON THE BARE WALLS OF THE MODEST GALLERY IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS. I AM TOUCHED BY THE INTRINSIC CREATIVITY OF EACH WORK, MY SENSE OF GRATEFULNESS HEIGHTENED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE ARTISTS ARE FRIENDS. SUE, THE MOTHER, HAS BEEN CHALLENGED BY ILL HEALTH ; HER SUMMER'S EXPECTATIONS HAVE BEEN DASHED, AND HER ABILITY TO FEEL GRATEFUL HAS BEEN SEVERELY TESTED. I AM GRATEFULLY CONFIDENT THAT THIS MOMENT OF WORKING AND EXHIBITING HER TALENT AND THAT OF HER DAUGHTER HAS THE POWER TO ELICIT A RENEWED SENSE OF HEALING AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH. THIS GIFT OF EFFORT AND BEAUTY TO OTHERS WILL I BELIEVE REDEEM A SUMMER OF ENFEEBLEMENT AND FEAR AND TRANSFORM DISAPPOINTMENT AND WORRY INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THANKFULNESS, MAGIC AND JOY.
TO SUE, LANNIE AND JAMIE- CONGRATULATIONS -ENJOY THE GIFT OF GIVING YOUR TALENT AND PASSION TO OTHERS.

