[In the photo above, I was getting ready for a date with James. He took this photo. You can see the photos of him on the wall. I snapped them and personally developed them in my college photography class.]

Today, I am reflecting on my past. In 1991, I was a 20-year-old young lady at art college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania studying graphic design, photography, advertising, marketing, art history, watercolor, fine art, and more.

One day, while taking a break back in my home state of Ohio, I was hand painting lettering of services on a dry cleaner’s window to make some money. I had to stand on top of the counter painting the large windows most of the day. Suddenly, a 21-year-old man with gorgeous jet black hair walked by the window. He immediately CAUGHT my eye. I asked my boss about him and he said funny! James asked about YOU also. Woweee!

So, the young man walked into the cleaners and stood there talking to me while I painted and painted … and painted for the rest of the day.

When I had to go back to college, James flew out to see me. Every weekend, he would drive from Ohio to Pittsburgh to take me on dates in the city, for walks in Point State Park and on Mount Washington.

Today, I am delighted to share we’ve been married 19 years. We work together at My Personal Artist everday and he can sometimes be found in the studio …

watching me paint.