Orlando Urban Sketchers at Stemma Craft Coffee

I drove down to Orlando to sketch with the Orlando Urban Sketchers group in Stemma Coffee (328 North Orange Avenue, Orlando FL). I like to go to the coffee and draw events since they are in the morning and my evenings are always full from virtual teaching.

I was running late since I had not considered the effect of rush hour traffic getting into downtown Orlando. When I entered this core group were well into their sketches. I ordered a Latte and a chocolate chip cookie. This group of three tables was full so I looked around for another vantage point from which to sketch. At the next table were two woman and an open chair. One woman was on her laptop, so probably not an Urban Sketcher. I asked if I could sit in the seat across from her. As I sat, I suddenly realized the woman next to her was very familiar. It was KC Cali. I have known KC since 2009 when I first started doing one sketch a day. I did a sketch of her when she worked with the police horses. I have a sketch of her grooming a police horse named Peanut. That was in the earliest sketch book of my daily sketch series. I have since filled two shelves full of such sketchbooks. I was so happy to see her.

We spent much of the next several hours catching up. I sketched at her wedding to Bob about 9 years ago. I remember because it was shortly after the Pulse Nightclub shooting. It was also at the time of my separation. KC never holds back discussing life’s challenges and rewards. As always I could tell her anything, and there was plenty to unload. Ironically she and Bob have been looking at property in Upstate New York but much higher up than I have been looking. The furthest north home I fell in love with was at Hastings on the Hudson. It was a gorgeous old place with an amazing rustic back yard full of plantings, and the ground floor was already set up as an artist studio in the Zillow photos. Unfortunately that place was sold out before I had a chance to see it in person.

The Urban sketching group finished up long before I was finished with my sketch. I was so focused on what KC was telling me. All the sketchbooks were lined up on the tables and photos were taken of the sketches and then the group. I was so happy KC and her friend lingered after everyone else rushed off. It felt more Parisian for us to savor the moment.

I am having a rather serious operation next month that will involve staying overnight in a hospital. Amazingly KC offered to bring me to and from that surgery. She has had to deal with doctors who mishandled treatment of several family members and she knows what can go south. I immediately trusted her judgement and I want to be sure she gets to know all the medical details while I am anesthetized. KC really is one of the oldest friends I have in Orlando and now I literally trust her with my life. Her husband, Bob, arrived as KC and I we were finishing our sketches. Bob has an eye patch and a magnificent grey beard. He bragged and joked about how medical staff treat KC with absolute respect. His light hearted joking further cemented my trust that I have a true advocate in KC.

As we bundled up to leave, I paused outside the Coffee Shop  and watched Bob and KC walk away. They were holding hands and leaning close to one another talking on that chilly morning. My heart melted. Love and affection are something worth fighting for. I wrote this on the day I posted the sketch of their wedding, “It is reassuring to see a couple reach out to each other once again, putting their faith and hopes in marriage. Life is short. We all need to believe in the power of love.” I am getting old and sentimental, or perhaps I always have been.

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