The Pacific Northwest is dry right now and fires are raging in central and eastern Washington and Oregon. Houston Texas and the surrounding areas are reeling from Hurricane Harvey as tropical storm Irma heads for Florida. It feels dystopia, like living in an Octavia Butler science fiction novel. I'm painting flowers as an anecdote. Lynn Whipple teaches and on line class that is fun and energetic. It also encourages me to fill my art studio with various arrangements of fresh flowers. I am grateful.