I am in Missoula this week, helping my parents clean out closets and do some spring/summer cleaning. In cleaning out the garage, we found this 8-foot painting from my senior year of college.

The painting has lived in the garage since I graduated in 2000. It now lives at the dump. We tried to donate it, but no one wanted it - I can’t imagine why.

I spent an entire semester painting it. On weekends toward the end of the semester, my mom would come over and help with the details. It wasn’t cheating. We were trying so hard to get it done in time.

Missoula is a beautiful town, and I love coming home and walking along the river, strolling the U of M campus, eating cupcakes from Bernice's Bakery, and hiking the Rattlesnake.