Retiring A Faithful Friend

This afternoon I sadly said goodbye to a constant companion of many years.  No matter what the hour was this friend was always there, ready to go to work with paint or pastel. It bore it scars bravely; but today I decided it was way past time to let this old friend retire gracefully into my rag pile. Yes, rag pile, as the old friend I am discussing is/was my trusty, old paint shirt.  It will continue on for a while cleaning my hands, then it will be a final farewell as it goes to the garbage bin.  Its replacement has a long way to go to live up to my old stand by.
Goodbye old friend.