Truths: A picture is worth a thousand words

People say that it can’t be done – or maybe they just don’t want to try – or maybe they just don’t know how…or maybe for some, it just isn’t possible.

We are the lucky ones… But, its not just luck that put us where we are – it was sacrifice … and commitment to something more important than ourselves: our daughter – who now, four people would share.

It wasn’t always like this. – These things take time, patience, and unconditional fortitude to keep going and working towards a peaceful relationship.

Keith is my ex-husband, Carol is his wife, Bill is my husband and well – you know how I fit in.

We have been divorced for 10 years (wow, I can’t believe it is that long) and for 10 years we have worked towards what became ever so apparent last night. Its not just Keith and I who have worked towards it but Carol and Bill, too.

We started just being civil, then a bit social… and now, I can say that we are really good friends – and when it comes down to it – we are family.

We moved to the same neighborhood to make it easier for Abby – and maybe easier for us when we drink at each other’s houses and have to walk home… But, it wasn’t just that we moved here – its that it was a welcomed idea by Keith and Carol.

We bowl together, I babysit their younger girls, we have been to their lakehouse for the weekend, we have been there for each other like good friends would be – maybe even better than good friends would be.

At horrible times in our lives – we have supported each other unconditionally.

What we have might be a miracle – but I like to think we had a lot to do with it.

I say all this as a prelude to what took place last night – because while it has become second nature for the four of us to hang out – last night reminded me just how far we have come.

Last night was a fundraiser for breast cancer. It is an art auction and wine tasting hosted by Carol’s brother-in-laws company, Interiors for Business. Their facility is beautiful – this old building with lofted ceilings and exposed brickwork and a perfect place to hold an event like this one.

Keith and Carol invite us and we love it. We always find one piece of art that we MUST take home and while neither of us are wine drinkers – we gulp it down and always ask for more.

We also get to see Carol’s family: her sisters, her brothers, her nieces and nephews, Carol’s friends from childhood. And, they welcome us with open arms and friendly conversation and overall warmth. We never feel unwanted.

Each year Carol’s niece, Kelly donates a piece of her own artwork. Every year it is amazing… and usually, Carol’s family bids so high no one else has a chance… But, last night the painting she did captured our hearts… an autumn scene of the woods on a lake with a faint pier floating on the water. Of course, this reminded us of our cabin… and we immediately envisioned it hanging over our bed.

The bidding on all of the art started and we were the second to bid on Kelly’s… and there were a few other photographs I liked and so we spent the evening sipping wine, hanging with Carol’s family and circling like vultures our cherished art pieces.

The bidding on the photos was reasonable but, like every year, Carol’s family, including Keith, were nuts about Kelly’s painting. The bidding was out of hand- but Bill kept us in it. It is the kind of painting that speaks to you – and there aren’t many of those.

When it got near the end of the night and we were in the lead – one of Carol’s family members said, “What are they doing? Don’t they know that is for our family?”

To which Carol immediately replied, “But they are a part of our family.”

And that was it – we loved the painting, but we really did know the artist and she did feel like family.

Kelly’s beautiful painting will hang in our cabin, a place we treasure, and it will always serve as a reminder of the extended family we are a part of, the accomplishment the four of us worked towards and the future we have together sharing our lives.

Metaphorically – the trees in the painting are banded together – they stand tall in the strong winds and huddle together in storms. They grow old with one another and when fall comes, their colors beam. A single tree of red is nowhere near as amazing as a whole forest of reds, oranges and yellows.

And that is what we are – a forest of family…and Kelly’s picture speaks a thousand words to ours.