Flower-power
or
Why should the young kids have all the fun?
So it’s children’s day at the local supermarket. As I push my shopping cart through the door, I see the face-painter with a young girl sitting before her, getting her face painted. Behind the willing victim, several young children wait, shuffling their feet in expectation. I go out to the car park, unload my cart, and push it back to the supermarket.
As I park my cart, I see that the line-up has disappeared and the face-painter sits alone, cleaning her brushes. I walk up to her table and ask “How much?”
“It’s free,” she tells me. “It’s children’s day.”
“Will you paint my face?” I ask her.
“You’re not a child,” she looks at me in astonishment.
“No, I’m not,” I reply, “but I’m in my second childhood.”
I pull out the chair and sit down.
“I’ve got some photos on my phone, or I can try and paint whatever you would like. Would you like to see some pictures?”
“No, thanks. Just look at me and paint what you think I would like.”
“What are your favorite colors?” she looks at me and smiles.
“I don’t have any favorite colors, but I always avoid green, yellow, and gold.”
“Oh, well, how about a nice flower?”
“Great!” I say.
One of the trolley boys who return the shopping carts in great convoys walked by.
“You need a mirror,” he says, “so people can see themselves.”
“Great idea, stay here, I’ll go and get one.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a mirror in the car. I’ll have a look when I get there. Meanwhile, it’s a surprise. I’ll put a photo up on my blog when I get home.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
I gave her my blog address and I kept my promise. Unlike many people I know, I usually do.
Commentary: with many thanks to Emily, the face-painter, who treated my second-childhood with humor and dignity. As I said to her at the time, ‘why should the young kids have all the fun?”
I like your pizzazz, Roger. May the Flower-Power remain with you.
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I would so hate to lose it, Roland! So: I am following the cricket. I would so hate to see England lose it. But they have three tough adversaries coming up. Oh dear!
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Lead on, Roger! Fun will cure whatever’s wrong with you, and if it doesn’t there’s something wrong with you! -j Jan Hull See my sculpture
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One of your sculptures is over my left shoulder as I type. I see it every day when I come into this room. Fun certainly does help. “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?” W. H. Davies.
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