Disasters are a funnny thing. They are all relative in the grand scheme of things. Hurricane Frances devastated several countries during her rampage and eventually left as quickly as she came - but not soon enough. Angry entities usually leave a longer trail of wrath than anticipated. For yours truly this became a fact of life.

In 2003, my studio was flooded out of existence  due to a burst copper pipe in the dishwasher. Being away doing portraits didn't help the situation. No insurance was available to cover the coslty damage. It is not enough to pay into an insurance scheme for more than twenty years. . .  you have to follow each new rule (whether your broker advises you of them or not) .  Marie and I are still paying for that disaster but we have rid ourselves of an unprofessional broker.

Not two years later, the studio is hit again. On September 9th, 2004, the tail end of hurricane Frances does me in. The floor drain and city sewers over-flow - causing total losses to the lower levels of every home on our street. The studio has lost its floor and walls up to a height of four feet. I am able to save most canvasses but suffer the loss of all of my custom built furniture and personal belongings. So I am back redesigning a studio. . . Maybe, i I don't make it as a portrait painter. . .  I can design studios for a living. . . -  25-09-04

On September 9th of 2004 I lost my studio to flooding. The second time in less than two years. During crises, I am usually cool-headed and organized but I worry how the whole thing will eventually affect me once the reality of it all hits home.  

Today, I look back on September 9th with laughter. As I was racing around clearing out paintings and equipment the water rose higher and higher - But I suddenly realized I would be OK when. . . during the process of saving the artwork from devastation, I suddenly stopped. I began searching frantically for a piece of paper. . . (I had just had an idea for a chapter in my next book and urgently needed to write it down before I forgot the gist of it. . .)  This eccentricity put everything into perspective - and at that moment I knew I would be OK. . . crazy, but OK. - 09-09-04