the details

I'm drawn to architectural details everywhere I look it seems,

but maybe especially in Charleston, SC.

Five Views of Color

 

Some of my favorites.

Valentine

I was so pleased when I found this valentine my father

sent my mom. Hallmark 1944.

His sweet message inside reminded me of the deep love they had for 

each other, that always was evident to us children.

I remember how much we loved Valentine's day as kids.

We gave a valentine to each one in our class. But the best part was 

decorating shoeboxes with hearts and tinfoil or tissue paper. 

The slot in the top was important. 

They became mailboxes that each child dropped their valentine into. 

How fun to take it home and open the valentines!

on the high wire

The big circus made it's last stand in our city this week. The last time we went was when our boys were young. Now one was taking his children and they invited us to join them.

Our seats were up really high. We climbed endlessly it seemed, narrow steep stairs filled with people going both directions. The Gardener's bad back, my bad knee … what were we thinking. At least there was oxygen up there. Finally we arrived ready to plop into our seats. There were six smiling young adults to climb over to reach our seats. But why not go to the empty seats behind ours, they suggested, and step down into our chairs? Easy for 3, 5, 8, and 35 year-olds. But us? The Gardener bravely positioned his foot on the arm rest of the seat below. He teetered and towered at six and a half feet tall, his son reaching out to help. Later he joked that all eyes were on him, thinking the show had started right there––a giraffe on a high wire.

Safely down, he reached to assist me. It was a steep reach to get my first foot down into the seat below. But my other leg, with its two-year-old knee replacement, refused to follow. Awkward at best. I'm sure we were still part of the show though my descent was not as dramatic as the tall Gardener's.

I claimed the honor of my gray hair and marched down to the six, still smiling and friendly, and suggested they needed to rise and let me get to my seat. They didn't seem apologetic, but were very nice and, yes, smiling.

Once we got settled, the big show began in earnest. Even though far away, we could see and hear well. The kids were enthralled and mesmerized. Watching their faces was the very best part. I asked the Littlest later what she liked the most. "All of it, Grandma, just all of it."

I'm so thankful we were able to make circus memories with our grands at least this one time.

Farewell old friend.

mantle views