Written by For our prompt of “Ocean” today, I opted for a little clownfish with its beloved sea anemone. I love how they have such a wonderful symbiotic relationship, each helping the other. Sure, a predatory stinging polyp and a little fish make a rather odd couple. But, that’s what creates the wonderful magic that they share. Indeed, while commonalities might attract us and bring us together, it’s ultimately our differences that make relationships stronger. Throughout my life, I’ve had some wonderful connections with people. Some I sought and others simply took me by surprise in a way they just naturally happened. Since I’ve been on this planet for quite awhile now, some of my connections have been lost over the years. Life changes, people move on, and things don’t always stay the same. I recently reconnected with a friend I hadn’t seen in years and it felt like no time at all had passed. I love those types of connections. The kind that formed on what felt like instinct and feel like they might last forever. However long that may be in the end.
Philippe and I share many commonalities, but when it comes to my impulsiveness and impossible dreaming he provides a nice balance. Though supportive, each time I have a crazy new idea he asks all of the pragmatic and sensible questions that I had completely ignored. That’s the thing about dreams, they can rarely be bothered with logic. And though, in the moment, I have to admit to thinking he’s being a total buzzkill, I always appreciate the help. Left unattended, I’d spin off into to the wrong direction. Philippe just treats me like the spinning top that I am and gives me the slightest nudge to set my spinning down a slightly better path. In turn, I’ve pushed him out of his comfort zone and gotten him to try new things that he might have avoided. This symbiosis is what keeps us together, and also keeps us both entertained. We’re not sea creatures who need each other to survive, but we still have a heck of a lot of fun together and this ensures we always live happily.
And, as for friends, I’ve no idea what the future holds or whom I might meet next. It’s never too soon to reconnect with old friends, it’s never too late to make new connections. I once worried about all of the people I’ve lost over time, but it’s not possible to keep up with them all. Lives tend to bend in different directions and it sometimes just doesn’t work out anymore. Yet still, what I’ve loved is that I have managed to reconnect with lots of people from my past. Even if it’s just a brief encounter it’s always so great to know that there’s still that sense of friendship there. And I hope this year my calendar will be filled with lots of lovely lunch dates with people I’ve missed over the years. In the meantime, you’ll find me at home with my tiny little family. Last night Phineas pawed at me and wanted to sit on my lap. This is rather rare for a dog that acts much more like a disinterested cat most of the time. But, it was nice to know that even sometimes he has to admit to needing me as well. Like all great relationships, it just works like it should, and that’s why, each and every day, you’ll find all three of us so happy together.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Red, Opus (Vivid Pink), Leaf Green, Cobalt Turquoise, and Indigo. Staedtler Pigment Liners in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Wonderful post, Charlie! One of life’s many pleasures reconnecting with old friends as well as making new friends.
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 Yay to that!
Wonderful colors and interesting post.
Charlie….I like your every posts which are short stories of your painting….very interesting
😊😊😊
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Yeah, my art is a bit of a combo of illustration and story. Glad you enjoy it!
Wonderful post Charlie! Meeting new people who share your passions or have passions of their own that you can share with them makes for fun and lively conversations. Art is such a passion of mine right now and sometimes I need to be reminded that there is other things to be passionate about.
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕 Nothing wrong with being passionate about art! hehe… and artists are lovely people to meet. It’s so fun meeting new creative folk!
Beautiful!!!!!!! aweeeeeeee so sweet that you and Phineas bonded on a new level!!! Sweeeeeeeet!!! 🙂
Thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕 Phineas is a sweetie in the end! hehe
Love your image and again your words struck a chord about relationships and friendships. Thank you!!!
Thanks so much, Priscilla! 😃💕 So thrilled you enjoyed this post!
I also have a few friends that I might not see for years at a time, but when we get together, it’s like no time has passed. Often these are people I shared a particular phase of my life with. Usually I can tell very quickly whether I will have that special connection with someone.
I agree! It’s so clear when I meet someone if we’re going to click. And so cool to see that still be the case even if years have passed without seeing them! 😃💕
Great painting Charlie.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕
I reconnected with an old friend from high school on Facebook. It is fun to see where our lives have led us and how much we changed and didn’t change. I like Facebook for setting up these encounters which would have never happened without it. We live too far apart to have run into each other any other way. Facebook has also given me a small mission. Whenever I find out one of my friends has been diagnosed with cancer, I get their address and send them a painting. It makes me feel happy to be able to add a bit of brightness to their day. I wish I didn’t have to send so many, but I’m glad that I am able to do it, even for people I have never met in real life.
Oh wow! That’s so awesome that you send Facebook friends diagnosed with cancer your paintings. Yeah, would be nice if the number we lower, but such a beautiful thing to DO! 😃💕
Sometimes I read a blog post and leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy, and this one definitely did. 😊 ❤️
I love Clown Fish, they’re so feisty! They also have rather fascinating survival strategy – all their fry start out male, born with both male and female reproductive organs. The largest fish in the group becomes female, the second largest becomes a sexually mature male, and the rest are sexually immature males. These immature males can turn into females if the alpha female dies – and if you have a solitary male long enough, it will turn into a female! 😁
Aww thanks so much, Gaina! 😃💕 So happy this post left you feeling warm and fuzzy! And yes!! Clownfish are soooooo interesting!! Finding Nemo would have been a VERY different story indeed had it been biologically accurate! hehe
The colors on this are so vibrant. So pretty. I would have not thought to do just a fish for this prompt. Glad I’m not there yet. You just made it a whole lot easier.
Thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, I go both directions on prompts. If I have time I make them a bit more complex, but most of the time I just simply things! 😉
It’s wonderful when you find those people who share your core values, and help you stretch beyond your comfort zone! You are fortunate indeed that you have, Charlie, and even more fortunate that you realize it!
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 Yes, it’s wonderful to find people who complement us in just the right ways!
“A predatory stinging polyp.” You have a way of making this feathery creature sound a bit violent – LOL. But the painting is lovely, and clown fish is impervious to the stings. Friendship is like that – impervious to the stings, surviving against the odds.
hehe… yeah, I tend to say what first comes to mind! lol 😉 And yay to that, Sharon! That’s indeed what makes close friendships so wonderful! 😃💕
quel bel article ! qui me touche ! même si vous êtes un genre de “toupie” – je pense qu’un jour vous pourriez écrire, être écrivain, car vous racontez si bien – le quotidien est aussi très passionnant – et même, nous aimerions en savoir plus, moi je ne sais pas vraiment, quels sont vos métiers, à tous les deux – Philippe a t il un Facebook ? merci pour ce que vous m’apportez, moi, en France
Merci beaucoup, Cathy! 😃💕I’m so thrilled you enjoy my stories! I DO hope to be an author one day. I’m currently a Creative Director for a packaging design studio. Philippe is a Phd scientist who now works in marketing design, video and animation. Unlike me, he doesn’t really use social media, though. 😉
Well painted! I like the cobalt turquoise and indigo sea.
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕
Well done!
Thanks, Susan! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this one!