"Let Us Speak For Them", oil on canvas, is a painting I did a couple of years ago. I recently put it up on my wall and am realizing how much love I feel from it. I never plan my paintings. I think I remember that as I was painting this one, I was thinking of everyone and everything that needs us to speak for them... children, the elderly, animals, the land, trees, forest. As a stroke survivor, when the aphasia is bad and I can't think of words or need to rest for a while, I feel this way. When I do my flute presentation for people at assisted living facilities, some are more verbally responsive than others, all have different abilities, and I try to address each one of them as it feels best to. Connect. They're in there, just as I am still here even when I have difficulty. I think there are times when we all need to speak for each other.