The Bench

A few years ago I shared with you a painting that I did of a bench but I did not share with you
that this bench was sitting in my front yard and how I loved that bench...just the feeling I had
looking at that bench.

Time changes everything...THE BENCH LEFT MY YARD THIS WEEKEND...time and many hard
winters have taken their toll on the wood and finally it is unstable to sit on...I thought of
moving it to a shady area where I visualized lush moss taking up residence on the weathered
seat relaxing lazily falling down between the slats and before that vision could materialize my
sister Carlene, also loving the bench as I do, and I decided her husband who is a wonderful
woodworker could revive the bench for her yard or someplace on the mini farm. That was not to
be and instead her husband Ed is making a pattern from that wonderful bench to create a new
bench in its image someday.

I have such fond memories of all the places in the yard this bench sat until it found its home by
the dry stream of rocks running through our front yard...memories of sitting on the bench
sharing with friends and watching butterflies and hummingbirds dart in and out of the butterfly
bush and sip the nectar from purple cone flowers all the while sharing with the bees, watching
my grandchildren playing on the rocks and sitting on the bench, my mom sitting there telling me
where and how to plant flowers, I would rest there while working in the yard, a neighbor sharing
how the bench invited him to come sit and reminded him of a time in his past and then the winter
I spent in Florida and did this painting all the while remembering the wonderful feelings of just
looking at the bench the past summer...what memories came up from that.

Now I know the wonderfulness of that bench was the happenings that were created surrounding
the bench that will never leave since they are inside of me...and so it is with everyone that I
know...no matter who you are or where you are...or how you entered or how you exited my
life...or if you ever enter again...you are here inside of me where I can find you any time.

Now there is a space in my yard filled with wonderful memories just waiting...as it is with you and
me...until I see you next to continue our journey whether in person or in my mind.