Barnaby Willows

[m1469]

How did it feel when you slipped on the wet, concrete floor and almost fell ?  Aren't you glad you caught yourself just in time ?

Do you think that she saw you ?  I hope not.  I can only imagine how embarrassing that would be for you... I have been there Mr Barnaby, I have been there.  Before I forget, I have been meaning to tell you that the fibers inside the left-hand pocket of that old wool coat that you gave me were coming loose.  I sewed them back tight again but... Did you mean for that to happen to me ?  Perhaps it's just all part of the character of the coat.  If so, I guess I have marred its character...

All the same, I will, from now on, walk around knowing that I am wearing Barnaby Willows coat.  What a pride.


Ooooops... he's here.  Please don't tell him I am hiding ...

[pianistimo]

and, yet, she had known this feeling of slipping a thousand times in her childhood.  it was only in her adult years that she had bought herself rubber soled shoes - in hopes that it would prevent slippage so she could also climb the ladder.  she had done it several times trying to reach the garden hose higher and higher - watering plants that she had tiered upwards to the highest degree of tiering in the basement.  she always felt that she would outgrow her childhood if she grew enough plants.  especially tomato plants.  she would start them in egg cartons and move to coffee tins.  it was tedious work - but someone had to do it.

getting back to the coat.  she fidged about frantically looking to see if there was an actual hole she could poke her finger through - or if barnaby would never notice that she had borrowed his coat for her gardening purposes.  it was getting cooler (dream on) inside - despite the heat outside.  this was her spend thrift ways - turning on the airconditioner full blast and actually needing a winter coat to stay warm inside.

occasionally, when gardening, she would think of the most pleasureable moments of her thrift store shopping when she was a child.  the cars that the family drove.  the moments when her mother peeled carrots by hand - and how good the carrot and raisin salad tasted compared to the cuisinart she now owned.  (thinking it might have been salted with pieces of her mothers own skin).  the time her mother polished her father's shoes to save money.  and, then sewed fur coats for the family to make up for it.  the time the family went ice fishing for fun - when it was really necessity.  noone ever told her where the food came from.  she dutifully ate it.  she never had the worries of life until she had her own family and had to create a sort of victory garden downstairs so that the tradition of tomato sandwiches could continue.

(yes, i've listened to garrison keeler? - is that his name - and 'lake woebegon').