The nine images shown here are the only ones I have ever made in response to an overwhelming emotion.

My ex-husband left me in his mind and body long before I ever put his belongings on the porch of our house in Worthington. His change of heart happened after he attended with me and my birth family the memorial service for my Mother who died April 29, 1999 in Charleston, SC. It was in back of her house into the tidal creek that her children put her ashes.

Although I cannot proclaim sainthood in the twenty-five years we were married, I can say that I let my him know that I had wandered and asked for his forgiveness.

However, in secrecy to me, but not to the members of the church where he was organist, he had been carrying on for months with one of his choir members. Everyone knew, talked about it, but never told me.

When I was finally alone in the house where we had raised our child and lived since 1978, in my studio was the only place I felt safe enough to be. Few friends responded to my condition and for those friends I am eternally grateful. Most of the town’s people ignored me.

During those twenty-one years, I grew and valued my time alone. I made so many mistakes that for the last eight or so years I was in the house, I decided to make them no longer. I sold the house, moved about forty minutes away, and sit here revived and sincerely believing in myself. Enough to write these words.

The images are each 22-1/4 inches in height by 30 inches wide. The media are oil pastel and charcoal. The last photo and the detail of the total layout are painfully out of focus. When I find the pieces ever again, I will re-photograph them.