once upon a time

Once upon a time, there was a little boy who sat in a little chair. Of course, today, Nathan is tall enough to rest his elbow atop my head without the slightest stretch or strain, but that is entirely beside the point. For decades, Dennie had kept, stored, moved from residence to residence, this toddler-sized rocking chair—preserved as a joyful reminder of the son who had once occupied it, the sweet little boy who isn't so little anymore.

While its sentimental value never wanes, use, time, and several relocations had not been kind to the chair's stability or to the wood's walnut stain. Arms had jiggled loose; the finish had cracked and faded. With no room to place the chair indoors, about seven years ago, Dennie had asked if I would paint it--something bright and beautiful to dress up our covered deck. There, it could be seen every day. There, no matter how its appearance changed, it would serve as a daily reminder of those special, fleeting days when Nathan could fit more than a hand upon the chair's tiny seat.

Not long after that, it was done, a plant stand, an art piece to refresh our outdoor living space, but look closely and you'll find, there in the design, a tribute to the boy...and his once upon a time.