a not-so-starving artist

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a veterinarian, then an animator, then an interior designer. My current job is not even remotely similar to any of those positions. My friend Katie, though, wanted to be an artist... and she is.

Last Friday, I attended the unveiling of her latest work, a mural created for the Edwin Gould Foundation and entitled "Prime Root."

I couldn't have been prouder, especially being that I've basically known how talented she is my entire life. Together we've finger-painted, performed in plays, went to art camps, and workshopped in writing classes.

And now she's an artist, a real one. I just love lifelong friends. Chatting with her parents again, meeting her high school/college friends, seeing her work, toasting to her success (and bright future) could not have been more wonderful.

By the way, did you know gazing at art can be healthy? In fact, a study from University College London found that when people looked at paintings they liked, the part of the brain that governs pleasure (medial orbitofrontal cortex) lit up. The nerve center relating to romantic love (caudate nucleus) also brightened. Maybe that's how I managed to meet a seemingly great guy the following night who is taking me on a date tonight? We'll see :) but whatever works.