Serendipity-do-dog

Since Truvy joined our family nearly two years ago, my life has taken some serendipitous turns. Last spring while sitting in the vet office, Truvy introduced herself to a lady sitting next to us by gently nuzzling her little, black nose into the palm of the woman's hand (which happened to be holding a few treats.) The woman laughed at Truvy's boldness. She was waiting on "her Pepper". A miniature poodle whom she had shared her home and her heart with for many years. From our conversation I gathered she lived alone and did not have children of her own. Pepper was her baby. She went on to explain she had recently thrown Pepper a birthday party....her 20th. Her eyes sparkled as she talked about the fanfare, but then her voice got quiet as she explained visiting the vet had recently become a weekly endeavor. Our turn was next and so I didn't catch the woman's name, but couldn't get her or Pepper out of my head. A few days later, I contacted the vet office and told them I would like to send an encouragement card to a client of theirs (without revealing any personal information). They agreed.

A few months later I received a call from "Eleanor". Until that moment, I hadn't even known her first name. She told me she had to put Pepper down and was still grieving, but she had happened upon my card and wanted to thank me for reaching out. We talked for more than an hour. In that time I learned she was an artist. In fact, she had been painting for more than 40 years! Her mother was a water colorist like me, but she preferred to work in oils. She studied art in Italy and Spain. A world traveler. Prior to painting Eleanor worked as a real estate agent, before that she was a grade school, Spanish teacher. She recently celebrated her 80th birthday.

A few weeks before the pandemic she invited me to her home to see her work and have lunch out at one of her favorite Italian restaurants. We ended up spending the entire afternoon together...I was nearly late to pick the kids up from school. Her home decor is an Impressionist wash of pastels accented by gold frames and objects (with stories to go with) she has collected on her numerous excursions around the globe. Twelve-foot ceilings showcase her cheery landscapes. She was both surprised and thrilled to learn I also paint. She wanted to see my work. I was apprehensive, however, upon sharing with her some photos from my phone, she handed me an 8x10 framed photo. "I want you to paint my Pepper". I was honored she would entrust me to capture the essence of her pup, but definitely nervous. Her dog was everything to her. Pepper came to her from a shelter, but from day one -- immediately made herself at home. Eleanor showed me the exact spot where Pepper liked to sit on the couch while she stood at her easel. She told me she could paint for hours while Pepper remained a quiet, captive audience. She never made a peep. She never had accidents. She just wanted to be Eleanor's constant companion.

At home I struggled with her painting. My poor family suffered, too. The photo I had to work with was a blown up version of an old, 3x5 picture. It was dark and grainy and difficult to find the shapes I needed to see to capture her. I brooded over it for weeks. My difficulties compounded by the uncertainty of the pandemic, distance learning and what the future holds for our communities and our world. I set it aside. Then I sought advice from my cousin, an accomplished artist. She had some sage advice -- focus on her face. There it was -- a simple solution. I felt re-energized and ready to tackle it.

I finished the painting, but waited several days before contacting Eleanor. Although I had put in my best effort, I knew she would have very high standards and I just didn't want to disappoint her. When I arrived at her house, she was already at the door to greet me. As I stood in her entryway...both of us donning masks and feeling just a little bit awkward, I pulled out the painting and held my breath. My worries were extinguished the moment she laid eyes on "her Pepper". She was near tears...we both were. Later that evening she called to tell me all about the frame she had selected. Turns out the moment I had left her house, she had made a beeline to ArtMart. She told me she had sang all through her dinner and just talked to Pepper. She felt like she was with her in spirit. She was so happy.

Me too.