Some of you may have met Eileen as she came to many of my meetups. She was a wonderful person, often chatting with everyone making them feel welcome. Eileen volunteered with the Florida Trail Association and loved sketching at Bok Towers. She had to stop coming to our meetups as her husband was sick and needed extra care, then she got sick. Not having heard from her in a while I texted her and found out from her son she had passed away from complications of chemo in April. Eileen donated to me and supported me from the get go, I will never forget that. Her encouragement and generosity turned out to be just the kind of person she was. She would often send me home with art supplies she didn't need anymore to my kiddo.
All of this to say we weren't best friends or even super close but she made a BIG impact in my life. It was bigger than I realized. My site is about sketching and I promote creativity, connection and conservation, I want to add community and kindness. You never know who you will touch by just being kind. Our world right now if full of uncertainty and fear and I believe, more than ever, now is the time we need more kindness.
Yesterday I hiked 6 miles on the Florida Trail and sketched in honor of Eileen. I will miss her and I will try to throw just a little more kindness into the world. I hope you will do the same.
I will be teaching at the Summer Naturalist event on July 17th at Bonnet Springs. Come by and bring the kiddos!.
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