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| This is one of my paintings. It is named "Under the Wisteria Covered Arbor." |
The year was 1949 and I was five years old. My family and I returned from Colorado that July to Sikeston, Missouri. My Father found Missouri to be very hot after being in Colorado for several weeks. One summer evening after our return, we all sat outside and talked about our wonderful vacation. The next day, he built an arbor next to the double windows outside the master bedroom. He thought it would make the home’s master bedroom cooler in summer.
I watched my father build the arbor. He planted small wisteria plants at the foot of each post. He was a man six feet tall with an average build and powerful hands. My Father’s bald head showed signs of sweat from the summer heat. His sky blue eyes sparkled with delight as he told me that next year the wisteria plants would bloom with purple flowers. I enjoyed spending time with my father. He was usually happy and always in a hurry to get things done. He enjoyed working and, whenever possible, he took me with him.
After two summers, the wisteria vine grew until it spread to cover the top of the arbor. The wisteria made a screen from the hot sun above. The long purple clusters of flowers cascaded down from the top of the arbor. I loved the sweet smell and pretty sight of the wisteria in bloom each spring. With time, the soft blooms dropped to the ground to form a beautiful blanket of purple.
Each summer I took delight in sitting under the wisteria-covered arbor. My parents subscribed to the National Geographic magazine that told in words and pictures of places unfamiliar to me. I would fantasize about being in far away places and experiencing the glory of learning new things, eating unusual foods and hearing foreign languages. The wisteria-covered arbor became a haven to escape from hot boring summers.
I felt stifled in Sikeston. My mother wanted to take me with her fishing but I found sitting looking at the dirty water anything but interesting. The weather was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. I never understood what enjoyment my mother obtained in fishing unless it was her way of escaping from a life in which she appeared to find limited pleasure. Most of the National Geographic magazines showed beautiful photographs of Africa, China, Europe, South America and other foreign countries. There was one article that wrote about Medieval German states, and it had stunning photographs of men and women dressed in period costumes, standing in front of Medieval structures. I dreamed of going there someday. They also published an article on New York City and its many attractions. Oh my! I promised myself that someday I would go to New York City and see those sites displayed in the magazine.
Einstein said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.” I imagined myself in some of those places viewed and read about when under my arbor. I traveled to New York City twelve or more times on business. Due to my work schedule, I didn't have a chance to visit all the sites to see, but I did get to see a few. To me, it is the energy I felt when walking on the streets, or riding in an elevator, or talking with my business associates that stimulated me on my visits there. I considered writing about the many places I have visited, but thought the focus of this Blog should be on "Imagination." I am a goal setter. If you don't plan for the future, you will accomplish much less than you are capable of achieving. In the fall of my life, I have learned that relationships matter and you should imagine positive things for yourself because it could be the "preview of life's coming attractions.”
