Karin de Baay, Barbara Thuro, & myself on right in San Miguel de Allende

Over the weekend, especially Sunday, I have been able to work in my studio without distraction. In part because “Football” has overtaken our house!  In many ways I love it when football season starts, and I can work without interruption.

The truth is…..

I am rattling around trying to get my mind back onto my art, or my blog, and trying so hard to not drop the ball on any of my creating.  The paint or the blog.

Barbara, Karin, myself San Miguel de Alliente, Mexico 2009

Last Friday afternoon, I received   an unexpected phone call as I was leaving the house to take flowers to a sick friend.  I had just picked up my purse, my keys, and  a beautiful bunch of roses in hopes of lifting my friends spirits.  I looked down at my phone and realized I’d missed a call, so everything went back on the kitchen counter to check my message.  As I listened to the message,  I realized it was from a Chaplain at San Diego Hospice calling to inform me of my friends passing the day before.  I was in shock when I heard the news, especially since I was headed to see her before I stopped to check this darn message.  It was as if,  had I not stopped, my friend would still be alive to great me.

Barbara’s beautiful yard  & waterfall.

Over the past few days my mind has been all over the place, and I’ve had a little trouble concentrating on writing, or painting.  I continue to try….and I’m doing a little at a time.  That’s better than nothing.  Mostly I’ve been reflecting on our amazing friendship.

The waterfall in Barbra’s garden.

My dear friend, Barbara Thuro, whom I’ve traveled with, laughed, and cried with.  Gone through hard times, and wonderful times.  Had parties with girlfriends with, sat together during debates, and elections.  Always having a pizza party, with wine, crackers, and cheese,  and always in front of a roaring fire while watching the results of whatever presidential election was taking place at the time.

Koi in the pond

Barbara has tought me how to plant vegetables, and compost.  She had tirelessly tried to teach me spanish,  and as much as I really wanted to learn, I have only retained a little (poquito).

My heart is heavy for not just my loss, but for everyone’s loss.  Barbara was a painter, a gardener, an author, an environmentalist,  she had a great appreciation for our beautiful earth, humanity, equal rights, she was an educator, and so much more.  I’m going to miss you Barbara, but I hold dear to my heart all the wonderful times we have had together, the wonderful places we have traveled, the times we’ve cooked together, painted together. Cried over our four-legged family members that had passed.  My grandchildren loved her, Barbara always tried to show them something interesting.  Being a teacher for many years knew just how to relate to kids.  They have always love going to Auntie Barbara’s house to sit in the tree house, or watch the koi pond, pick vegetables, or just sit in front of the fire.  We have celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas together.  It is their loss also.

Outside our B & B in San Miguel.

This is such a simple version of who this highly intelligent woman was, and how she lived.  She is an example to us all, she has set the bar high, and I will dearly miss her.