Art Gallery: 2009

Oh look - there she is waiting for us. Hi, Violetta! ((hug))

Happy Birthday!

"Thank you Julia," she says as we head over to the gallery. I'm celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday today by having a showing of her work in my cyber gallery. "That is very nice of you," Violetta says. "That will make me feel very special."

Her husband Jeff meets us on the balcony before we head into the art show. "Hey bro," Jeff says to my husband Brad.

"Hey, Jeff," says Brad.

"Hey, Big Guy!" Violetta says, hugging Brad.

"Happy Birthday!" Brad says, giving her a big hug.

"I hope I don't have to make any speeches," Violetta says, laughing.

"Nah," I scoff. We're almost at the door. She turns and looks at Jeff, takes his hand and walks into the gallery.

As I watch her walk in and look around at her paintings, I squeeze my husband's hand and feel so lucky to have Violetta as my sister-in-law.

Those Smith men really are magnetic - my husband pulled me from the Maritimes across three provinces to Ontario so we could meet. Jeff pulled Violetta all the way from Poland. It's probably why Violetta and I get along so well. We both fell under the same Smith spell.

I've always admired her adventurous spirit, coming to Canada and seizing life with both hands. I love her no-nonsense style, her easy laughter and her get-on-with-it manner.

I'm so glad you've come to my art show today, so we can enjoy the world as Violetta sees it.

Well, here we go.

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Ha! Ha! Here comes Violetta, bobbing through the crowd with food for us.

"What are you doing?" I ask. "I should be getting it for you!"

"Just sit down and eat it!" she says.

Who can argue with that?

Happy Birthday, Violetta.

And thanks to you for joining us at her art show.