I arrived in Bisbee...and what do you do first, you go to a party of course to meet amazing people. This town is so unique and each inhabitant has endless stories, to share and listen to. There is an openness to be yourself, whatever that looks like and an embracing of caring for the community.

One of my best friends (Travis) from the time I was three years old has an aunt and uncle that live in Bisbee. Travis spent sometime in Bisbee a couple years back and he told me I have to check out the place when I get the chance.

Travis' aunt and uncle, Kate and Grady who I know from a long time ago growing up with Trav and his cousins, so graciously welcomed me into their home, which Grady built.

Kate had talked to some people in the community and put me in touch with people that I set up workshops to create while I was there. I got to work with 4 incredible young artists between the ages of 8 - 12 on self portraits. Another day I met with a group of emerging artists ages 2.5 - 11 months, as we explored clay and watercolors together, and listened to all they showed us in their interactions with one another.

Kate opened her home and community in such a beautiful way, we shared meals together and I appreciated so much the way she spoke of each person in the community with so much thoughtfulness, kindness and real sense of interest. She invited me to join her at her friends home for dinner where we ate outside and I had the blessing of meeting more interesting people and then we heard a sound...something rummaging in the bushes right behind the small rock wall. I shined my light and had my first experience witnessing Javelinas! I didn't know what one was but they are interesting creatures!!! A whole group of them maybe six.

I got to see Elvin, Travis' cousin who I grew up with and he took me on the trail hiking the town, which was great because the town has so many different pathways and staircases it's tricky to know which ones you can go up. Elvin is a big chocolate fan and believes in the medicinal properties as medicine, so with my love for chocolate we got along great. It was wonderful to hang together, then late one night he screamed my name from the living room as I was about to sleep...I wondered what was wrong, he said there's something moving on the other side of the room. I turned on all the lights and didn't see anything except what I thought was a statue of a lizard on the wall, next thing I knew It started flapping...on the floor, a bat in the house!

In Bisbee I felt something amazing, people being people and loving and valuing one another for exactly who they are.

At Kate's house there is a butterfly in her mosaic steps.