06/11/2026
Sometimes it takes 30 years to realize you’ve been doing the same job all along.
That happened to me yesterday.
Yesterday I drew caricatures at a grand reopening in Fairhope at The Brennity.
I’d drawn caricatures at this assisted living facility before, and several of the staff and residents recognized me.
The second lady to sit was named Heather. She hadn’t had time to get drawn last time I was there, so I told her to sneak in early before the line. She did and finally got drawn a year and a half later!
I drew one lady who was 97, and her son asked me to draw her.
She was absolutely delightful, and her caricature turned out to be one of my favorites of the day.
I think you really have to love people to do what I do. All kinds of people. It shows in the drawings, and that’s why people love them.
The Lifestyle Coordinator sat for me towards the end. I asked, “What’s a Lifestyle Coordinator?”
She said, “Oh, we do enriching activities with the residents. Trips. Bingo. Events like this one.”
I said, “Oh, an Activities Director?”
She said, “Yeah. We just call it lifestyles now.”
I said, “You’re not going to believe this, but I used to have that job.”
Way back in the ’90s, before I was a caricature artist, I spent five years working in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and an adult day center.
She said she’d seen me at another event—someone’s party—but hadn’t gotten drawn and always regretted it. So she was getting one now.
And I thought, well, this is a full-circle moment.
There was also Chef Matt, who asked me to put a chef’s toque on his caricature.
The funny part was that he didn’t give me a photo or a reference. He just trusted me to make one up.
The Business Director had shown me where to set up, and then I didn’t see him again until the very end of the event. His caricature turned out to be one of the best of the day.
And there were actually two people I stayed late for.
One was Ashley, who hired me.
People who organize events often don’t get a chance to enjoy them. They’re too busy making sure everyone else is having a good time.
That’s why so many hosts end up being my last drawing of the day.
Ashley was no exception. She’d spent the afternoon running the event, so her caricature wound up being one of the very last ones.
The other was a resident.
I’d already told her I was finished and had to go, but she stayed and chatted with me while I packed up.
By then everyone else had left.
She wanted a caricature so badly that I finally unpacked just enough to draw one more.
When I handed it to her, she smiled and said, “You made my day.”
Moments like that are one of the reasons I still love doing this after 27 years.
And honestly, I think it shows in the drawings.
I also have to tell you what I heard from the residents.
They all talked about how many friends they had at this facility and how much they loved it there.
Any idea how rare that is?
Towards the end, I heard a person touring the facility ask Chef Matt, “Is this what it’s like every single day?”
The staff were lined up to get drawn after the residents got theirs, and everyone was laughing and joking around.
And Chef Matt laughed and said,
“Yep. Pretty much.”
To me, that’s how you know it’s a good place.
When the staff genuinely enjoy being around each other, you can feel it.
The grand reopening seemed to be a huge success.
The Senior Miss Alabama contestants were there, along with the Trail Maids in their beautiful gowns.
Residents, families, staff members, and people touring the facility filled the building all afternoon.
Everywhere I looked, people were talking, laughing, and connecting with one another.
The fact that they hired me tells you something too.
Companies that invest in enrichment usually understand something important: people need more than a place to live. They need things to look forward to.
They need reasons to gather.
They need reasons to laugh.
So if you’re looking for a place for Mom or Dad, this might be it.
Stories like this aren’t rare.
They happen at almost every event I do.
And honestly, that’s why I love what I do.
People think I’m in the caricature business.
I’m not.
I’m in the people business.
The drawings are just the excuse.
If you’d like this kind of story to be part of your next event—whether it’s a business, nonprofit, library program, community celebration, or wedding—I’d love to help.
Visit www.caricaturesbykathy.com to learn more or check availability.
