I awoke this morning to a text from Edinburgh that gave me an almost unfamiliar giddiness in these chaotic times. It was a New York Times Theatre Review about an Off-Broadway musical, and in the photo accompanying the review was I Am More portrait subject, Patrick.

Patrick was one of the originals: the 15-year old boy who shared the story of his transgender transition, and chose to have his portrait set in our local animal shelter with puppy, York:

Even after participating as a subject, Patrick continued to support the project with appearances at a treatment center in Danvers, and the opening of I Am More: Massachusetts in Worcester in 2019:

A fellow theatre kid with our daughter, Dylan, Patrick went on to study musical theatre in NYC, and Dylan was lucky enough to choreograph him in “Seussical” and “Rock of Ages” in lead rolls.

So, about that text! Here it is:

I click on the review – it’s a “Critic’s Pick” by the New-York-Friggin-Times, a glowing review with a special mention: “Earworm and Bookworm (Patrick) have a lovely number about who they are in their private realities, when no one’s looking at them.” And to top it off, the next text was a caricature of the cast from the acclaimed Broadway artist, Squigs:

It was too much, and I’ll take it! So for anyone else who has needed some good news, please enjoy Patrick’s success with me, I have been giddy!

Also…I have been treated to a parade of portrait subjects arriving in my driveway to pick up their portraits since the conclusion of I Am More and it has been like a “This is Your Life” episode of these amazing people from my past, and being able to hug them and hear their updates and pack their portrait into their car, and they’re all doing well! It’s been such a treat.

And finally, what am I up to? When people ask me this around town I get a huge grin on my face and proclaim, “I’M ILLUSTRATING A CHILDREN’S BOOK!!” More on that soon…