Painting on window screen

I found this mermaid painting on a window screen on sale so brought her home but she’s banned by Crystal (Marianne in Blue Rubber Pool). She absolutely hates her. I keep her in the party room. (Yes, this mermaid is a “kept woman”.) Wouldn’t she look good airbrushed on a 1979 Ford Econoline van.

Bad things happened, an entire run of them that shut me down, caused me to withdraw from everything except my inner self.

One afternoon, in a hammock, I took a photo of myself. Just my legs. But there was no one to send it to. No one to understand.

I needed a sidekick so I sketched an armadillo because they’re crusty on the outside but not within. I made him my butler. Crusoe’s manservant Friday.

We began interacting—my hammock photo speaking to that critter, that critter speaking back.There’s a folder of cartoons somewhere. For now there’s just this one. (LINK)

Eventually after that I began writing novels.

I’m still a hermit, marooned you might say, but leaving my shell more and more—my inner self seeking its freedom through writing.