Held Together with Memory

I am refinishing a plant stand built by Mari's father about 88 years ago.

There is nothing, and everything, special about it.

Before it ever became Mari's plant stand, it had already been demoted to less colorful duties in Parnell's basement, or out in the tool shed. Drops of old paint on the stained surface suggested that it was about the right height to hold a paint can, but now all of those small humiliations are cleaned away. There is solid oak there, as good as it was when first put together in a grade school woodshop class, long before woodshop became industrial arts, or interior design.

We have a jade plant that will get first chance to try the new perch. With a little good luck, and a lot of affective memory, many other plants will look down at generations of kids and cats during the next 88 years.

That will bring Parnell's plant stand almost into another century.

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