My Happy Best Day

This is me and my daughter Stephanie. She's a whiz. Really. She recently asked me to come to her job as a manager of the make-up and fragrances counters at the downtown Portland Nordstroms to be the sitting sketch artist at the Jo Malone counter for a day. Wow. This is cool. Like bring your mom to work day. I was a little nervous.

 I paint. My sketching skills are rusty.

It was a little like on the job training. (shh, don't tell!)

Armed with a cheat sheet of London landmarks and the work of previous sketch artists who have gone before me I showed up for work an hour early, a little nervous and excited.

It was so darned much fun. Everyone made me feel at home. Stephanie's co-workers turned out to be as nice and welcoming as my friends in the mixed-media world. I could see that they were all so considerate of each other and so very kind as well.

The 5 hours passed so quickly and enjoyably that I didn't even feel like I was working. I was relaxed. Happy. Really incredibly happy.

The best part was seeing the pride on my daughter's face. It was just like the day I brought cupcakes to school for the entire class. (Do they allow that any more?) How my little girl beamed with pride to show her friends who her mama was. It was that. 

Only a mom could understand.

All the way home the trees were brighter with autumn color, the buildings looked more in focus and as I drove past the Willamette Falls I was faced with this extraordinary sunset reflecting on the river. I think I heard angels singing.

Thank you Stephanie Garber for the most amazing day I could ever imagine. My heart is so full.

 Mother is so proud of you.