In the days long ago, before social media suggested we post images of picture-perfect homes rather than real, lived in ones, I for some unknown reason snapped an image of the corner of the kitchen where I wrote lesson plans, student reports and my dissertation in a flea-market-chair on same rickety kitchen table where my Grandmother "set up house-keeping." I filled my corner with a hand-me-down desk-top computer and the benches that once held my young children and used them to hold paper, books, and research papers.
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Looking at that sparsely decorated corner from a 2026 perspective, I realize I was not even a little bit concerned about the mismatched decor or lack of creature comfort in that space! There were no need for a theme or color coded bookcases in the background in those times before zoom turned our home spaces into curated images. In fact, that purple image on the green chair was actually a pillow, covered with an old sweatshirt, used to "support" my back sometimes and prevent my "writing sores" at others!
I could almost hear the usual evening noise of the dishwasher, nearby, doing its thing and the television, in the other room, as I got to work on the task that needed to be done before bedtime, as I concluded this image had no family or historical significance leading to its destruction. Those were thegood old days when real life was messy, mismatched and hidden from the world!
8 comments:
Yes, my reality is still messy and unmatched and the blur feature on Zoom means nobody knows!
You were too busy living! I like how you begin with that rainy Memorial Day weekend to photo culling, to this contemplation. It feels so real, certainly better than shelves of color-sorted books!
Anita, we had that same blue loveseat in my parents' living room in the late 1990s, and this style of mismatch speaks to my inner writer. I was usually writing in a spot a lot like that one. And the pink curtains - - I decorated in that color once or twice in that same era. Yes, I feel right at home here in your photo - - the reality of a busy life and a writer at work. Glad you are sharing photos ~~ :)
There's a bit of a theme coming through in this morning's SOL posts between you, Stacey, and Kim. I have a hard time with perfect spaces... much more of a mess here....
This makes me think of the saying that if you come to see me drop in any time. If you come to see the house, make an appointment. Homes are made to be comfortable and lived in. arjeha
When people say, "workspace," they often imagine an ideal that does not, cannot exist in the real throes of hard work. I love every mismatched thing about this true working space, especially the large sticky post-it pad that says, "Teacher/Student at work/play" like nothing else.
At this time of year, I look around and realize how many artifacts I have received as gifts. I am not a collector and I've also been a fairly disciplined "weeder" of things. And yet, there's nothing homier than random collection of objects that make our lives possible. Thanks for sharing!
I like the way this line connects us to your grandmother, your work, and your studies..
I for some unknown reason snapped an image of the corner of the kitchen where I wrote lesson plans, student reports and my dissertation in a flea-market-chair on same rickety kitchen table where my Grandmother "set up house-keeping."
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