Dear John

My family is so mixed up that I usually tease and call us the "true American nuclear family." My father has been married three times and my siblings are as follows, from oldest to youngest: JG (from first wife), C (first wife), JW (step sister from third wife), me, M and E (twins and my only full sisters), S (third wife), and MG (the only boy also from third wife).

My twin sisters are, as cliche as it may sound, two of my best friends, but with the rest I have varying levels of a relationship. One relationship that circumstance has never lent to being very deep, but oddly strong is the one I have with my oldest sister, JG.

JG's husband passed away in August due to brain cancer. It was expected, but still devastating. I felt out of place at John's life ceremony, wanting to support, but not entirely sure how. When I got home I decided to paint her a painting, as a way to show my love. It is of her favorite flower, a stargazer lilly.

Here is the painting after four hours: