As a retired school counselor , I have resumed a pastime enjoyed in childhood and then abandoned for several decades while family and career took precedence. My paintings are now landscapes and flowers, rather than stuffed animals posing on my bed. My watercolor paints now come from tubes, rather than a tray of eight small ovals lined up in a row in my fold-over metal box.

Travels near and far serve as inspiration for paintings these days. Whether painting a seascape while perched on a rock on the coast or painting while reminiscing over a photo from a past journey, I can lose myself in the colors and shapes and the process of putting paint on paper. It is a form of meditation for me.

Pen and ink sketches have become another endeavor I enjoy. I try to keep a small sketchbook and pen handy, especially when traveling. I often sketch fellow travelers while awaiting a flight. It keeps me entertained and provides an interesting collection of faces and figures.