29 April 2009

Never too old to color.


On Saturday afternoon, I took one of those naps where you wake up and have no idea what day or time it is anymore, and you've slept on one side for so long that your hair is smushed into a conehead and, more than likely, there is a pool of drool on the pillow. You know that kind? It was so refreshing. And the first thought that occurred to me when my eyes peeked open was, "I am going to color now."

It was a strange thought, considering that up to that point, my Saturday had been filled with a very adult-like and responsible task: hauling compost back and forth, back and forth, between the huge mound in the driveway and each individual tree stump and veggie sprout and plant base in the front and back yard. It felt so "homeowner." It was great functional exercise though {all those squats and bicep curls with the shovel and wheelbarrow}...and I actually liked working with the compost. You might think it's smelly and full of flies, but compost actually feels fresh in an earthy kind of way. The only unfortunate fact is that it’s so powdery that with a light Texas wind, it seeps into any crack and crevice of your skin that is not covered with an article of clothing. I didn’t realize this until I heard Steven singing, “It’s A Hard Knock Life” from Annie, complete with flamboyant hand gestures, as I passed by with the wheel barrow for the umpteenth time.

Uh-oh. I went inside to check myself in the mirror, and it was not a pretty sight. The white tube socks that I had pulled up to my knees and over my workout pants were now black. My hair was frizzed almost to the point of no return, and dirt had caked on my face and formed so many visible lines and smudges that I looked like a coal miner...or perhaps a street sweeper from the movie Oliver...or, admittedly, one of the kids from Annie. Maybe compost-hauling doesn't have to be so adult-like after all.

I took a very welcome hot shower and scrubbed myself from head to toe with my honey mango shower gel and then collapsed into bed for that perfect, drooly nap. I don’t know what happened in my dreams, but when I woke up, all I wanted to do was color. You're never too old to color, you know. In my "Rain Washed" craft room, I found my box of Crayola State Collection Crayons and a butterfly coloring book that Steven got me as a surprise at the Mennonite grocery store. I set out for the back yard with my supplies tucked under my arm like a little girl on her way to kindergarten.

Outside, Steven’s phone rang. It was my dad calling from New Jersey. Steven answered it, they exchanged greetings, and then there was a pause on our end of the conversation - my dad must have asked what I was doing.

Steven answered nonchalantly, "Oh, she's coloring."

{"Coloring??" I imagine my dad must have asked in his brash Jersey accent.}

Steven answered again, "Yeah, she's coloring...with crayons."

I looked up at him and smiled. Then I went back to busily coloring my butterflies as the real-life ones hovered above the flourishing lavender bush.

11 comments:

Ali O said...

love it. I often suggest coloring to my girls just so I get to sit down and do it, too!!

michelle said...

oh, you make me smile. i can picture you waking up, looking crazy, then going out to color. what a simple and satisfying way to spend the afternoon. i love you, my dear christine.

jenni said...

I think I need me some honey mango shower gel...

I've been wanting to color, too, except with Prismacolor pencils. :)

Tara said...

This is great. Love that you "played" in the compost and took an amazing nap, and definitely love that you decided to color when you got up. Sounds like a perfect weekend! Hope to see you this Saturday. :)

Susan said...

i absolutely love this. you are too great. and may i point out that you have a thing for tucking your pants into your socks. i'm just sayin'.

Shawna said...

i'm so glad that you are taking time to color. it is very therapeutic actually...why do you think i do crafts with kate so much!? :)

Mandy said...

I love this. Seriously. Love it.

Again, someday we must be friends in real life. I mean, this is real life, but...you know what I mean! And now I think I'm gonna go find a coloring book and do the same. What a good outlet!

amy said...

This post made me smile -- I think I'm going to go look on amazon for coloring books, now...

Lauren said...

love this stine! luckily i have a kiddo who loves nothing more than digging in dirt and making art...so i got lots of this too :)

Robyn Jones Clark said...

i love to color and do it often.

Anonymous said...

what a satisfying way to spend the day. i often get down to colouring when my kids are doing the same. love it.