For the last 8 1/2 months part of my daily life was to check my book marked websites for the latest news on Barbaro. He stole my heart while watching the Kentucky Derby... and my heart was broken watching the Preakness. I've had his photograph on my computer desktop both at home and at work so that every day that I turned on my computer I was reminded to say a little prayer. And if you don't think all this was pathetic enough... yes I've got the Breyer Barbaro and the Barbaro Beanie Baby which I just got for Christmas. The only gift this year that made me cry.. I know.. pathetic!

So you can imagine on Monday I had a really tough day. I watched the news conference Monday evening and saw how heartbroken the Jacksons and Dr Richardson were. If I was hurting how much more so were they?

So I decided to join the thousands of FOB's (Friends of Barbaro) and send a card to New Bolton Center offering my thanks and my sympathy. I really wanted to send them a card that was meaningful... so I decided to draw a portrait of Barbaro with his friend Dr Richardson because this is exactly how I will remember him. They gave each other so much! I just finished it late Wednesday night it is small.. only about 5x7.

So tonight I will print this portrait on a greeting card and send it off. I'm considering matting the original and sending that as well... looking for some advice on it. I'm sure they got a ton of artwork already!

He meant so much to me. This work is absolutely straight from my heart. =}