For the last fifty years, Jane Cardi and Carol Townsend’s friendship has been bound by creative ties of love and mutual interests: they have been co-gardeners, bread bakers, public school teachers, mothers, tennis partners, wives to WVU professors, and neighbors. They earned graduate degrees as working mothers.

And when Carol was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, Jane began painting original watercolors every week and mailing them to Carol. They arrive with a note from Jane–sending Jane’s love, optimism, and the beauty she always puts into the world. Here they are, defying the word “cancer” with their unique loveliness.