For Nesty

I would like to dedicate this painting to my mom's friend and mine, Nesty, who sadly passed away on Monday in the most unexpected way. 

Nesty is one of those old friends who go way back for me and my mom, one of those people who knew me 'way back when'.  I refuse to say 'was' simply because I feel like she still 'is'.  She is and always will be part of our memories, our shared lives and our hearts.  She doesn't disappear just because she is no longer physically here with us.  She just is.  The way my grandma still is with us, and my two kitties, and many other loved ones we've lost along the way, yet they are still with us, every day.

I would have liked to have painted flowers in her memory: she loves flowers!  But I am inept at painting flowers, I'm afraid, and I would not have done them justice. Most definitely not in the way her paintings do.  So instead, I simply want to dedicate my latest painting to her as the smallest gesture: where I was at this point in time when this sad, shocking and most unexpected news came our way.

This painting happens to be of pink macarons, happy macarons, that for some odd and inexplicable reason feel right to me, like a pink celebration of her life. I think she would like them, the way she always likes my paintings, with kindness and support.  She has always been encouraging of my painting, and I always appreciate her comments and interest, especially coming from a fellow artist.

This is one of Nesty's many beautiful flower paintings, such a talent and inspiration:

I grew up with Nesty, her husband Mihai and their beautiful daughter Dana, and they were part of my childhood landscape in Romania and of so many memories.  Fun childhood memories of me and Dana sharing mushroom filled tiny bread baguettes called 'cornulete cu ciuperci' that my mom made total spur of the moment at my birthday party :-) And so many other memories of a time and a place that feels so long ago, and yet in many ways like only yesterday!

We shared a life in a hard place, a communist country, in a past where we found beauty and joy in the most creative ways.  Beauty like her amazing paintings, greeting cards she created, 'Martisor' she made for every March 1st to celebrate an age-old Romanian custom, her artistic and creative jewelry, and her love for all white furniture. The last of which I have figured out only more recently is something that brushed off on me big time, without even my realizing for a long time that it made such a strong impression on me as a child - so thank you, dear Nesty, for this gift I will continue to carry on. 

Sharing the unique experience of growing up in such a tough place bonds people for life!  It certainly did so for us, and Nesty, Dana and Mihai still feel like extended family to me and my mom, even after so many years apart.  And to this day our conversations feel like not a day has gone by, like we will always belong to and share a certain world no matter where our paths take us in life, and like we're just picking up where we left off every time we talk. 

Nesty is such a kind soul and a creative artist with an eye for beauty, and as someone just said, she's now going to paint Heaven!

Rest in peace, Nesty!  We will carry you and your beautiful soul in our hearts!

Much love,
Cristina