. . . and at the end of the day . . .
The backdrop today is sandpaper. Lots and lots of sandpaper. Five different grits - to swerve a bit to close to the technical - each applied in the appropriate order. Big machine, followed by small machine, and finally, each in their turn, shoulders, elbows and then wrists. But the result can be stunning, as is evident in the coffee table we feature this month.
Behind the backdrop curtain today is time. The gift. Even if only to be employed through the application of said sandpaper. But done correctly there is progression and rhythm to the sanding process that can, as with life itself, make it all palpable, pretty much. It was late last week, somewhere between the 150 grit and 220 grit sandpaper when a news story came on the radio about a two-night concert event celebrating the 75th birthday of Joni Mitchell.
I have always been a fan of Joni Mitchell. But it took time, decades really to began to appropriately appreciate the body of work. I knew early on that she painted all of her album artwork. But I did not know until recent years that she was bedridden and institutionalized with polio at age 9. Or that she gave up her baby for adoption, which is what so many 21 year-old women were compelled to do in 1965. To stretch the seems of the metaphor - this is perhaps a life that had the coarse sandpaper applied early. But the honing has given us all a very special gift.
I have a dear friend who recently lost his closest and earliest childhood friend to ALS. And that is what I would want him to know, if Hallmark would be so kind as to provide the verse. No matter how hard the end, if we have had the gift of time, the end is just the finish coat. After all, God wants our best grain showing when we are called home.
All images Copyright 2010-2018 Ray's Variety. All rights reserved.