I suppose I didn't actually meet Elizabeth Taylor personally. I was in attendance at the opening reception for VSA arts first international festival in 1979. I had come to the nation's capitol with a collection of my paintings that I would exhibit the next day at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This was my first time in Washington DC and the first time I had traveled at all since my 1975 accident.

At the time Liz was married to the dashingly handsome Senator John Warner and she was considered a leading light in Washington in the same way that she is still regarded in Hollywood. The hotel ballroom was jam packed with dignitaries, administrators and all of us artists. My brother had joined me and we had taken one of the tables near the front of the room.

When the VSA arts director had concluded her remarks of welcome and described what we were going to be celebrating over the next few days she introduced Ms. Taylor who rose from her VIP table and made her way to the podium. Even though this was during the time that she had put on lots of weight, she still sparkled and exuded that charisma that she has. Her route to the stage took her immediately past our table and as she came by she gave me a lingering look with those incredible eyes of hers.

My smile was ear to ear while listening to her welcome us and thanking us for our spirit and determination to create and sharing our creations with her and the national people. She made eye contact with me several other times during her speech and I sensed a growing bond between us. Where was my camera---