Chapter 13

Castles and my poetry became my life and the people that visited inspired and pushed me forward. I found myself engulfed with color and 3 D creating. Where else could one build a castle of purple, wear different avatars from horses to birds, build fairy tales people could walk through or just meet someone from the other side of the globe. I would give tours and others pitched in to help also offering a friendly atmosphere for all. Everyone watched out for each other and helped each other in time of need. This was truly an experience worth exploring and sharing.

I made great friends from everywhere and these people made a difference in my life. Mo ended up being KingTex who helped build and create things. As we became more acquainted I found out he was the lighting director for Eric Johnson. One day Tex decided to visit my hometown and I will not forget the yellow roses he brought. Quite appropriate for a Texan. When they were appearing live with the Steve  Miller band ..Tex sent me two tickets to come. One for me and for my son. We went and had a great time. We got to go behind the scenes and tour the bus. Tex was great at his work and the stage was lit up superb.

Another friend who stands out was GWRider. We met in VP and I talked him into coming to Castles. Him and I would spend hours in there greeting people, laughing and passing the day. Being friends with him has lasted since 1998 and we are still great friends today. In 2004 I actually got to meet him when I was traveling and we laughed likes two school kids trying to get me a coke from the coke machine. It was as though we had known each other in real and nothing was taken away from our real meeting.

I had tried painting in the late 80's but to me they were childlike and far from worthy of hanging on a wall.  One day my mechanic had stopped by and saw one on the easel. He asked me if I would sell it...and we agreed at $10.00. The rest I did I threw away or gave away or sold in a yard sale. I never painted again until 1998. In Castles Wendel had become someone I enjoyed chatting to and I told him I used to paint. He asked to see one so I took a picture of two my daughter had kept. He coaxed me into trying to paint again but I still didn't like them. But it give me the idea to create another world called "Artists".  I decided a place where others also could hang their art would be fun.. so I created that. Albert De Girolamo from Italy was the first artist to come. Then others appeared and before long the world was full of art of all kinds. I decided to take the sky background and place peoples name in it along side mine. One day Ray from Holland popped into Artists and fell in love with my painting called "The Magic of Castles". He bought it and it was my first painting shipped overseas and I just couldn't believe someone would pay good money for one of my creations. After that more sold and before long I added Artist to my dream list. Albert painted a portrait called "Bella in Castles" and I sent him one called "Ciao". At this time Castles had horses for avatars and lots of people watching over it which is where his painting is derived. It reflects me, the tourists and the guards of Castles and one of my treasures sent to me from abroad.

As time went on my art begin to flourish. Some paintings I actually loved and couldn't believe I had done them. One went to the UK where it hung at the London University, owned by Denis Vincent aka Holy Officer. We had some great times together in the early days of Castles.  One went to Bruce Carey in NZ... where it hung at Wellington College. Suddenly people weren't just buying one painting.... they wanted more. One collector bought 18 and said she saw her whole life in my paintings. A gentleman bought 11 in Texas... Sam. Great guy... funny.. He flew in once and rented an old mansion and people came in from all over. We had a great time. Kayheart was with me for a week and we had a blast in real. We have become super friends throughout the years.

One day I popped into Castles and found someone wearing the screenname "Moses". He became a regular and eventually told me what he did for a living. He was a bodyguard for a superstar rock band in NJ.  When he came to visit me he sent a  limo to pick me up 45 miles one way to take me back to the airport to pick him up and take us back to my place. I took my whole family with me and it was a funny time.  He stayed a week at a local hotel and was missed when he left.  He would call me on the phone and sing in my ear while he traveled.  Our favorite movie was GroundHog Day and song 'Always" which inspired the self portrait nude "Always". Moses and I were great friends and he is a true nice memory in my life.

"Always doesn't always mean forever but for a time it sure felt like a lifetime."

©belladora

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