“To spread love, healing, peace, and joy is my mission in life—and so I speak up.”
—India Arie

My birthday party was super fantastic complete with awesome boyfriend, loving friends, beautiful children, live band, and oyster truck!

Yes, my life is magical. Yes, I'm going to France. Yes, I am in Love. I also just hit a milestone birthday, had a fantastic celebration, and felt loved and adored. I’m so grateful for all the abundance in my life. Now, I am recovering from shingles. I've been on a rollercoaster of exciting events and thrilling opportunities, and my body is now screaming for me to slow down.

If you haven't had shingles, get the vaccine NOW! It's pretty horrible. At first, I thought it was a couple of mosquito bites on my thigh from working in the garden. The following day, I realized it wasn't mosquito bites because it was sore and looked like it was spreading. Maybe it was a series of spider bites. By the next evening, I was speeding to Urgent Care because I thought either I had a flesh-eating bacteria or something was propagating beneath my skin, and they'd find nothing left of me other than a few crumbs on my bedsheets in the morning. I had a horrible blistering rash that was enflamed, painful, rather disgusting, and spreading like wildfire. The diagnosis of Shingles was actually a relief. I was put on a round of antiviral pills, three a day for seven days, that were navy blue and the size of a Fava bean. Also, the strongest course of steroids I've ever taken to avoid permanent nerve damage and neuropathy. I'm feeling much better.

First big oyster is underway and filled with possibilities.

It's incredible how healing good friends, meaningful work, loads of fun, and lotsa love can be. I'm taking it slow and getting things done. Preparing for my trip to France, painting, making music, working in my beautiful garden, and watching baseball will get me through the Summer with ease.

I do have a couple of events that I’m participating in but I’m not running the show so it’s easy peasy. Meet me at my next appearance during the opening of the Studio Montclair show:

STATE OF THE ART

Opening Reception: Friday, July 12, 2024 ( 6–8pm)
Exhibit Dates: July 12 through August 16, 2024
Leach Gallery, 641 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ.

**Tequila Summer** 10 x 10 inches Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas. $650. It’s fun in a glass.!

I'd love to see you and show you my latest work, so make an appointment now, right here to visit me in my studio. Afterward, we can have refreshments in the garden or enjoy the air conditioning because life is magical. Stay cool, have fun, and if you're over 50 GET YOUR SHINGLES VACCINE!

Love you,
Leslie