Sep 14 2009
Vita brevis… et ars brevis
Life is short… and art is short.
Before the workers came to install a new sliding glass door, I had to make room for them to work. I took down the vertical blinds. I also moved a free-standing corner shelf.
The shelf worried me. It held a number of ceramic pots containing bamboo, aloe vera, and the ubiquitous philodendron. (I have a theory that all the philodendrons in the area are the offshoots of cuttings taken from one generous, green-thumbed resident of Marine City, Michigan.)
I was nervous when I moved this plant stand, afraid I’d break something in transit. But it stood steady near the stove, out of the way of the work.
That is, until I had to get a glass of water.
Every one of my creations broke, leaving only a store-bought milk-glass compote and a glass frog (a circular glass plate with holes for plant stems).
Was I sad that I lost all the hard work? Sure.
But I wasn’t hurt. (Shocking, I know.) And the aftermath has been positive. With the shelf now empty, I got the idea of taking it to work to serve as a office supply station (works beautifully). With nothing in that corner of the kitchen, more light comes through the new door.
If I wish, I can make other bowls and vases. And I’ve gotten better, so the new will be more beautiful than the old. Unless I drop them….eek!
