Jingle Belle

This is Belle. Her full name was Jingle Belle. She was a Christmas present to a young Georgia Family.
I was contacted by the wife to paint Belle. She wanted an anniversary present for her husband.
Belle had been in Dog Heaven for five years when I painted her portrait. The husband had grieved so hard for her, he never wanted another dog. She had lived to 17 years old.
I painted Belle.
The wife called me and asked if she could pick her up. She told me her husband would be with her.  She also told me that the painting was a surprise. She wanted to give her husband the portrait in my studio where I had created it.
They walked into my studio and I excused myself.
The wife called me back into the room in a few minutes.
The husband had been crying.

He said, "you don't know what this dog meant to us. She rode in the front seat while my kids were learning to drive. Her favorite thing was to ride in the front of our boat. You painted her there didn't you?"
The wife had the most beautiful smile on her face.
They have a new puppy.