My neighbor Lydia picked me up at the jetport several years ago and in the midst of conversation on our way back into town via outer Congress, we both paused and wowed this orange chair that someone had cut loose on the side of the road. It stuck out in an otherwise rather bland gray mid-winter landscape like a neon sign screaming PICK ME UP PICK ME UP PICK ME UP! But we didn't.
The next day I opened the front door of my apartment building on my way to somewhere, and there sat the chair on our front stoop! Lydia had given in to temptation. She's a better shopper than I am - she actually buys stuff - I just look at it. It now stuck out on our otherwise drab gray front stoop like a neon sign screaming THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! It was stunning, albeit a bit beat up, chipped and certainly not to be sat upon. But it looked splendid out there and I absolutely loved it. I used it for my spring seedlings - the orange and those beautiful light greens made for a stunning little corner arrangement, and you could see the blasted thing from way up the street. It made our place really special.
Sad to say and for the life of me I can't recollect whatever happened to that chair. I know that as the years passed it got soggy and lost whatever luster it originally had. It was after all, an indoor chair and we left it out there year round. Maybe it finally just fell apart or maybe someone picked it up. I feel guilty about not remembering. Oh well - for now it remains a wonderful springtime memory.
The Orange Chair • 8" x 8" watercolor framed to 12" x 12" • $200
