Six years ago a good friend of mine passed away due to cancer. She was just shy of her 65th birthday and deserved so much more time. I met Elaine through a figure drawing and painting meetup. People talk a lot about how hard it is to make friends as an adult, and it’s true, but I made several friends through that group and it was the easiest thing in the world becoming friends with Elaine. Hard not to, really.
She was warm, funny, loving, open, and mostly out of fucks to give even before being diagnosed with cancer. She was kind, but not adverse to calling me on my bullshit.
Talented, too. She was a gifted artist and I loved seeing her work. I enjoyed dabbling with art but Elaine could half-ass artwork better than what I could produce giving it my all. But the fun is the point, and painting and drawing with Elaine in the room was always a good time.
Elaine pushed me to sign up for a polar bear excursion that I hemmed and hawed about, because it was expensive. One of the best experiences of my life, and I really owe it to her for giving me the nudge. Or shove. Somewhere in-between the two. In hindsight I don’t regret spending the money, not one little bit.
Wish I’d spent more time with Elaine, when I could. I need to do a better job on that front, spending time with people. Doing art, crossing things off my bucket list, petting cats. (OK, I do pretty good on the last one already.)
We need to create a world where those are the priorities. That’s what’s important.