Dirk is my marvelous neighbour.  He celebrated his 70th birthday last night with a grand party in his apartment.

Luc is Dirk’s friend and was there to cheer the host on.

For me the evening was about them.

Here’s Dirk opening his presents, waxing poetic about whomever and whatever came his way:

Dirk has a flair for the dramatic, partially due to his years of directing plays.  He also has a huge heart of kindness.  One expression of that was his generous offering of cava, wine, pancakes, melting white chocolate, frites … and mayonnaise!

And then there was my sitting companion Luc.  He told me he was a cartoonist, going by the name O-sekoer.  As Luc showed me some of his work on the phone, my eyes grew.  Brilliant … passionate … courageous.

He scattered my brain cells.  And they’re still barely holding together.

Here’s Jesus:

Immense contrast.  Shocking.

And then there’s a gruesome similarity:

Luc was teaching me.  I looked around Dirk’s living room at the faces loving him.  And then my eyes settled on an object …

Within the cage … yearning for freedom

***

Thank you, Luc

Thank you, Dirk