beach

I did this commission for a very dear friend who’s children were 8, 5 and 1 years old, and are now 36, 33, 29.
Growing up, we were neighbors and I was best friends with her little sister. I hadn’t seen them in over 20 years, and then they paid me a surprise visit at the hospital right after my stroke. It meant so much to me! I was thrilled to do this commission for Colleen and her husband, Jim, knowing that every time she looks at it she is going to remember that time in her life 
and think of me.

             “We had just moved to Honolulu and were staying in the Hale Koa, right next to the Hilton, which is the military hotel where we stayed until housing was available. I would take the kids to the beach in the morning, then nap time and when Jim came back from work we would go back down on the beach. It was not posed-they just ended up sitting like that and Jim just happened to have his camera with him. I think he just always loved the innocence and sweetness of it. We are so fortunate that they have grown up to be close as adults and it would not be a surprise to see them sitting together on the beach today. I should have added that the specialness of the picture is the reminiscing of a magical 3 years – the beauty and wonders of living on the island, the magic of kids growing up on the beach, and the memories of the making of lifetime friends! And all created by a very special lifetime friend of whom Jim and I have very dear memories!!”