A while back, The Most Beautiful Girl in Missoula moved to Denver. I had to practically kick her out of Msla. Every time I saw her, it went something like this:

Me: You still here?

Her: Yeah. I think I will leave next week.

(The next time I see her…)

Me: I thought you were leaving on Friday. What are you still doing here?

Her: Well, I meant to leave, but ___________. (Fill in the excuse of the day).

I love her very much, and I was sad to see her go, but I knew she had to leave.

In the middle of helping her move, she gave me a fair sized box. Looks like a box in which to store photos. I had no use for it, really, and asked, “What am I going to do with this?”

“Oh, you’ll find some use for it, I’m sure,” she said.

And I immediately knew what I would do with it.

I took it home, and filled it with art supplies for her, to inspire her return to creativity. Oil pastels, drawing paper, a little notebook for list-making (she likes to make lists), some coffee from Butterfly Herbs , and lentils, traditionally known in Brazil to bring one luck and good fortune. (She had recently visited Brazil.) Maybe some other things, too.

Then I painted and collaged all sides of the box. The scans from that are here. For whatever reason, I did not scan the top of the lid. The inside of the box would not scan (depth, I guess).

Side2

Then I sent it to her.

I have miss for you, oh, the Most Beautiful Girl in Denver. I love you, Babe.