Chapter 6 – Morning Ritual

Bette had settled into a daily routine.  She loved the first morning light and considering the lack of windows in her efficiency, she needed to maximize her light time.  Getting up pre-dawn, she would dress simply in overalls and a t-shirt, sitting in her window perch waiting for the sun to come up.  As the haze of light brightens the city it was like a light bulb with a dimmer switch which was slowly turned up.  Bette would use this time to be at peace with her canvas before launching herself into her painting with fervor.  It was almost like an athlete pre-game ritual that Bette savored.  Her art was very physical in the stokes and techniques that Bette would use so comparing her work to an athletic endeavor really isn’t that for off the mark.  She laughs when she thinks about how much coffee she used to slug down to get going in the morning.  Now she doesn’t even think about it.  Its funny how just doing something you love can get the juices flowing.  And Bette loved painting now.

These mornings would fly by.  Sometimes Bette achieved wonderful results and others wonderful attempt which went astray.  But either way Bette learned from her painting.  Its hard for her to describe how much the work gave back.  Pouring in all her emotions with intensity bursts would later translate into a sense of achievement, accomplishment, and satisfaction that even her most successful show had never given her.  This felt healthy, felt right in a sense Bette had a hard time describing in words.  But she knew this is the real me.

At the end of her painting pilgrimages Bette would grab some lunch, something simple because no matter how she tried, boiling water was still a major feat for her in the kitchen.

It was in the afternoon that Shane would come by to see her.  Shane came by often, mostly just to shoot the breeze.  This was welcomed by Bette who saw these visits as break from herself.  Bette would look forward to Shanes visits.

Evenings where the hardest time of the day for Bette.  Some were spent with Kit, as we all need someone in our life who can cook.  But when Bette was honest with herself, it was that Kit would listen to her.  Just listen and not judge.  Kit was rapidly becoming one of the most important people in Bettes life.  It was late at night when Bette went to bed that she would let her thoughts re-live many of the little memories of Tina.  Little things that didnt mean much:
a caress of Tinas cheek with Bettes hand, the softness of her cheek …