Last Monday was absolutely beautiful. I met up with a journalist who wanted to follow me around while I gave out my $10.
We met at Union Station and walked over to the Capitol. I answered questions on camera while we walked around the Capitol grounds. As we were walking I saw a woman about 50 yards off the path who had an easel set up and was drawing the dome of the Capitol Rotunda. I made my way across the grass and introduced myself to Janet.
- Janet sketching the Capitol (Photo: Reed)
David, the journalist, stayed about 30 yards away and filmed the interaction.
Janet welcomed me with her calm voice. I explained what I was doing and she agreed to participate. She is extremely talented and passionate about her work.
Janet started her artistic career doing pottery. She took up drawing and painting about nine years ago while living in Israel due to the minimal equipment needed to draw and paint compared to sculpting. Janet and her husband lived in Israel for about five years and in Italy for a year.
She said she would love to go back to live in Jerusalem. It tops her list of cities to live in. New York and Rome make up second and third respectively. Originally from Houston, Janet clearly enjoys traveling and visiting new places and cultures.
She and her husband are no strangers to giving. From helping refugees in Gaza to donating items for women imprisoned in Juarez, Mexico, they have made a clear choice to help others. Janet also went into areas of Sri Lanka where media were not even given access and provided art supplies to orphans of their civil war.
Photo: Reed
The sun’s position in the sky was changing. Janet was studying how the light and shadows fall upon the marble and white slathered limestone of the Capitol walls. She was gracious and polite; however, I tried to wrap up things quickly.
I took some pictures and came back to the question of what she was going to do with the $10. She told me that she had recently found $20 on the street and her husband decided to put it in an olive oil jar. So she said that she would add the $10 to the jar. I asked her what she intended to use the money for in the end and she said that she didn’t know yet. “My husband says he will break it open some day though.” Well, maybe she will remember me when that day comes and drop me a note about what they do with it.
David and I walked to a near-by bench and sat down and talked some more. It wasn’t five minutes after we had sat down before another person walked up the grassy knoll and started up a conversation with Janet. Despite all the interruptions she is certain to have, she manages to create beautiful work
Year of Giving 
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