Reality Check!

Writing while paint dries for tomorrow’s big event… my first artist market!

Two carloads full of stuff have already been dispatched to the classroom where I teach group workshops, conveniently located just across the street from the bazaar. There’s another full load of art for morning!

The studio angels are already begging to go, too. Doesn’t matter where. They just don’t want to miss the fun!

We ventured out today for last minute necessities like a first aid kit, a desperately needed picture frame, a hole punch, and bungie cords to hang the banner. Oh, and flowers and chocolate. Can’t do Intentional Creativity® without them!

I have a plan for lunch and some fizzy stuff chilling.

I have a wardrobe plan in case it rains and one in case it doesn’t. (The weather is looking better… prayers appreciated!)

The printing is printed and the email sign up list is ready, thanks to help from some gifted, patient friends! I have gift bags and bubble wrap. I even have a participation event – assuming it actually doesn’t rain – which, obviously, includes dots!

It’s been a long day.

Finally, about half an hour ago, I fired up my laptop and checked Facebook.

Reality check, indeed.

You see, lots of my paint sisters live in California, much of which is, once again, on fire. Some 50,000 souls have been ordered to evacuate, many of them in Sonoma County. The word historic is appearing in the news. And it seems the news is getting worse.

My teacher is safe and offering beds to those who are not.

And I am, in this moment, deeply conscious of the luxury lurking in the hour Bill and I spent today rearranging “stuff” in the kitchen so that it works a bit better than it did, especially when it comes to counter space for feeding the Beasties.

I know I’ve shared this with you before but I’m about to add it to the last painting to be finished tonight. It’s a practice known as metta or loving kindness meditation. There are many forms of this ancient prayer. Here’s the somewhat abbreviated one I’ll be adding to the gallery sides of my small canvas:

May all beings be… peaceful, happy, well, safe, and free from suffering. 

You are most welcome to join in the sense of this prayer, whatever your tradition. And may you and yours be peaceful, happy, well, safe, and free from suffering.

So be it. Amen.

PS… Market survived. Am about extroverted out! One of my favorite parts of the day was the dots for peace participation project. The picture, above, is of two young brothers who started out afraid of “messing it up” and finished with extra large dots made by  their brilliant notion of dipping acorns in paint!

Amen, again!