Divorce, death, age, loneliness were all about to hit me like a baseball bat to the gut. Why all of these things happened at the same time? I wanted to believe that “what does not kill us makes us stronger”—instead I felt like curling up on the couch and sucking my thumb. I felt I had no more tears left.
Instead of hermitizing, the first thing I did on the Monday morning after my youngest left for college was to call the local disposal company and order a big dumpster! I spent three days throwing out and purging all the crap in the house and garage. I filled two dumpsters, by the way, and it felt great! I’d seen those reality TV shows where they make over people’s environment. That did turn out to be wonderful therapy.
A cleaning and remodeling frenzy was next in order to establish a new environment that would be mine! This is where my artistry was born. I painted every room in the house. If it was white, it was going to be something different, something warm and inviting and cozy! I always find it strange that people have a fear of change. Even so much as just painting a room a different color. Lordy be ... you can always paint it white again!
When I got to the kitchen, I went crazy with dark sage/fern-like colors swooping and swirling and sponging. I grabbed a gold-leafing pen and scattered marks all over the wall. It looked awesome.
The only problem was my favorite oil painting that I had of Mom’s. With the new color on the wall, it just didn’t fit. So, “Ah hah!” I say to my brilliant self. “I can buy a canvas and paint my own!” Well, I thought I could. What I ended up with was a comical cross between contemporary art and baby puke.
I stood back and actually laughed out loud. A friend came over to see my progress and took one look at my art. She, too, screamed with laughter. I always remember to laugh, because if we don’t we’ll cry!
