Death can come swiftly and unexpectedly or it can be painful and lingering before a final release. Art also comes in many forms and this column is dedicated to two dear friends, Idella Tooke and Jane Osburn, who died within a month of each other. Each a talent in so many ways, although not necessarily on canvas.

Janie, pretty, petite, sparkling intense blue eyes, glowing tanned skin and a halo of white hair. Her love was arranging flowers, a life member of the Garden Guild, she was the artist that made the large daring arrangements at the entrance of every flower show. She especially liked to do Ikebana and avidly studied the art, even going to Japan to observe and learn how the professionals did it. She was good at what she did and often shared her knowledge of flower arranging the Japanese way with groups of friends.

Janie inviting me to come over for a swim and to share a Tequila Sour because the “sun was just right” The early morning walks in Taos to see the incredible light that brings so many artists to New Mexico.

Her tireless, but quiet giving, devoting hours of her time to worthy causes. But she had a zest for life. I can see her eyeing the grain of the wood deciding which way to place it in a backdrop. She became interested in sculpting and gave the art form her full concentration. Later she moved on to photography taking technical lessons from Jill Fessenden and traveling to remote villages with her camera to capture a look or how the shadows played against the brightness of the day.

And the picture in my mind of Janie, with a twinkle in her eye wishing me a Happy New 2000 will always be bright. The memory of Idella: the epitome of an elegant, small-boned southern lady,. gently mannered with beautifully sculpted high cheekbones and warm doe eyes. I had just returned to Ajijic after a 15 year absence when I met her. I was building a home and she was just about to start. She had the fragile beauty expected of a true southern belle. It was Easter and she was standing on the lawn sipping champagne, her delicate face shaded by the wide brim of a straw hat trimmed with flowers. Her taste in building her town house in the village was flawless. Only an artistic eye could have decorated the interior with such a pleasing mixture of elegance. She mixed muted colors and antiques with beautiful European paintings. As far as I was concerned she could easily out-do any professional interior designer.

Yet there was another side of Idella who loved to go to the Hash House Harriers in her base ball cap, sneakers and sweats with the Harrier Logo on the sweatshirt. The Idella that gave generously while living quietly. The Idella who laughed easily, enjoyed a good joke, and had a passion for peanut butter on the bottom and tuna on the top sandwiches She loved French fries dipped in mayonnaise, hamburgers and a doted on chocolate anything. Salvador Dali would have had a wonderful time painting her diet.

Idella, while slipping away from us day by day never once complained about her fatal illness or gave in to it. She loved flowers, peanut butter and life. .