This painting was inspired by Sandi, a very very old cat who lived at the San Francisco Zoo in California many years ago. Sandi and her companion Topal lived together most of their lives and were very close. Topal died shortly before I did this painting. For a long time, after Topal died, Sandi would wander over to the place where Topal lay down each day to sun himself. She would walk around and around smelling the area and then would lift her head high with nostrils flared and mouth open. This is how cats recognize things...by smell. This is how they recognize and remember what was there before. This painting is Sandi remembering Topal, her lifetime companion.

Sandi died several years ago. In human years she was about 110 years old at the time of her death. She was a grand, strong and resilient old cat. She now spends her days in the spirit world lounging next to her dearly beloved companion Topal.

Lions teach us many things about community, and attachement to others. Female lions in particular teach us how to operate most effectively in cooperative efforts with others. Female lions are the primary hunters for their family prides and caretakers of the young. They scout, hunt, rest, groom, play, and care for the young, together. They often form lifetime attachments to their companions.