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This journal entry was a thumbnail sketch for a painting I did for two
friends, Celeste and Nita. They lived together in an apartment
somewhere in downtown Sacramento. I couldn't find it now even if
you paid me. It was a spacious apartment that was the whole top floor
of a building built in the 1950's. It had hardwood floors, a big
brick fireplace, a balcony, and double glass doors that separated the living
room from the dinning room. It was beautiful. I spent many evenings
passing the time with them.
I knew Celeste from school, and Nita was Celeste's little sister's best
friend. They named all the houseplants after the men in their lives,
and they both agreed the Wandering Jew should be named after me.
I was surprised, I never really considered myself grouped together with
the men they dated. I was special. At times I felt more like
a brother or a father. Celeste died of brain cancer, and Nita dropped
out of my life after I remarried.
The painting was an acrylic wash on bare canvas. They had it on display
in the stairwell, so as you looked up there it was to greet you.
I don't know what happened to the painting.
8 1/4" W by 10 3/4" H
1981
