"The table was strong and stable. It was placed in
the middle of a room in the middle of a house,
and life grew up around it.
It was perfect for birthday cakes and catching a
slice of morning light, for drawing imaginary worlds,
and unfolding maps to discover real ones."
If you live in Canada or the United States, you might well be thinking about next week and the celebrations that happen with Canada Day on July 1 and Independence Day on July 4. Everyone has their own traditions and plans to make the day special. Often, visits are centered around the home, and its table.
This table is the center of the home here described. It all began with a seed and a tree. How the tree ended up being turned into a table is anyone's guess. It took time to measure, cut, sand, and shape before it became the table that sits where it welcomes family, visitors, and new friends. Life does grow around it. It might be a birthday party, a quiet moment in morning light, a gathering place for building new worlds and playing endless games.
"It was a spot for afternoon snacks,
and schoolwork, and science projects,
and sometimes for an office and a
barbershop, a studio, and even a
stadium for invented games."
Our kids used it as a fort; our family used it for large, happy, holiday meals with family and friends; Nan used it to scratch her lottery tickets; and many times it held plates of appetizers when entertaining at staff parties. Today, my family and I use it for the meals we share every day while they are here visiting each July. We also play games there, write stories, and do crafts.
The story is told with heart and simplicity, allowing listeners to stop and talk about what they are thinking as it is shared. Watercolor illustrations add context and encourage close observation. Readers are privy to the happenings for family members as the days and years pass, including many photos, art work examples, and meals eaten there. The final spread is filled with lovely moments.
No comments:
Post a Comment