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The rays of sunshine enter through the window at a sharp angle hitting Donna’s desk in front of me. Tiny dust particles bring a physicality to the rays. Wait, what did he say? 4x (2y + 6x) equals - I don’t know what. The end of school is near and I cannot concentrate. The trilling bell brings me to the present as a fire alarm is giving us a break from class.  Is this real or did one of the delinquents pull the alarm to relieve us from class? I remember sitting in the hallway for tornado drills and though I try to remember the “duck and cover” drills Jeff remembers, I do not. Seeing films of these exercises during a college history class, I wonder who orchestrated the absurdity. How does the known radiation of Hiroshima get blocked by your school desk? Did our parents know our worries about a nuclear bomb? Since I was born, I have lived within a couple miles of the lake, which a bit south turns into the Detroit river and Canada is within sight. If crossing that river was my only hope and that of my children, I always felt I would find a way to cross. Though people are breaking laws, at times I struggle with the wrongness of migrants crossing our borders, knowing only desperation allows one to drop a two year old into another country, never knowing their outcome. How closely I watched my 2,3,4…year old kids and grandkids, never letting them out of my sight. Panic setting in if I couldn’t find one, for even a minute.  Seeing the strength of the Ukrainian people amazes me. The kindness of the Polish people leaving empty strollers at a train station for arriving Ukrainian babies brings tears to my eyes. When I painted this picture, I was in Charleston, Jeff was enjoying a day of golf. This painting was different for me in that the colors were darker and the use of red was unusual for me. No invasion had yet occurred. Within a few weeks the painting changes. I learn the sunflower symbolizes the bravest people I know. Now, the maroon snapdragons remind me of the blood that flows. Tears flow daily with each newscast and I want to help, but how? A Ukrainian artist in my facebook art group posts her thanks and appreciation for all the sunflower posts. I had wondered if my post was only self-serving. If you believe in prayer, please pray and care for the people with endless resolve.

Be caring. Be kind.