Drawn to it
I came out of the driveway and saw them lined up, like Olympic judges, under the ancient mahogany trees across the street.
There were a half-dozen of them, and they were in low-slung collapsible chairs you'd take to a lawn concert or a fireworks show.
But they all had pens, pencils or crayons, and they were all sketching Steve's house, where we rent.
I am altogether too familiar with the Historic Architecture Review Commission Guidelines: "Gothic Revival, characterized by pointed arches and extensive gingerbread trim, has one example [in Key West's Historic District], the William Kerr House. . . ."
Kerr designed Old City Hall, the Custom House, the Pilot House and several other great buildings -- but he built this for himself.
So it draws attention, and I went across the street to see who was drawing it.
"Do you mind if I get a picture of you with the house?," I asked a woman making a sketch.
"Oh, not at all," she said, apparently flattered, "but he'll have a much better sketch," pointing at the man seated next to her.
I glanced over, and he lifted his sketch for me to see. "It's lovely," I said to her, "but you have the better angle for the picture."
"Oh, I certainly understand that," she said, and sat back to pose.
2 comments:
dear mr. lion. you still do the drop-in, freeze-frame narrative better than anyone on the planet. i remember still the contents of a lady's purse while riding the, hmm, was it the 151. no, maybe another number. but i remember your artistry on that marvelous page 3 of style, where you had at it. your fingers zipping along the keyboard like nobody's business. your mind zipping even faster. i love when you drop in, freeze a moment, capture all its glory, cock the camera at just the oddest, most delicious angle and hold it up for all to see. you should conduct master classes. i'd sign up. i'd carry my pad and pen all the way to the keys, if you'd stand up in front of desks, teaching how you do it. i don't think some things can be taught. i think you just have to be born, bless you, with a pocket full of miracles. you sure were.....love, your biggest fan on the whole wide planet......
oh, barb, you have no idea how much i value your support and encouragement then *and* now.
what can i say? i just like making snapshots, words or pictures.
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others take note: this is praise from a source to be reckoned with. i merely take notes on the world. barb WRITES about it every day on her blog: http://pullupachair.org/
i defy you to read it and not be moved.
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