The Christmas Chairs Story

I seem to have this habit of letting Christmas slip up on me.  I know it's coming - same date every year.  As usual I put up little coloured lights around the bay windows overlooking the snowy boulevard and bare maple branches so I can enjoy the glow in the living room each evening.  The red gingham wreath with golden bells goes up, a cheerful accent against the jade green door. I search out CDs with joyous Christmas music.  I have the video tape of the roaring yule log at the ready. I put out more candles and think about this special season.

This year I got out the box of cards, looked on the web for the latest e-mail greetings, compiled a list of friends and family addresses online and off. As Christmas frenzy swirls around me I'm thinking what can I do that is special this year? Something homemade. I remembered what I was doing this time last year. I went on a pre-Christmas sentimental journey to Arkansas and Texas to visit family and friends. I found two schoolmates I'd not seen in 35 years! I had a wonderful few days in Little Rock with my dear stepmom and her marvelous new husband - who says you can't find true happiness late in life?

On the Texas leg of the journey by train, my suitcase and I somehow parted ways and when I arrived in Dallas it was no where to be found. Whoa! That was no fun...no Christmas presents to give and no change of clothes.  I continued on however, just managing to pick up a rental car before closing. I drove to Lake Kiowa to see my sister Carmen empty handed. She dug out some extra clothes and I unwound by doing a sketch of her favourite room in the house. The theme is southwest and features a comfy chair covered in a red Navaho-style blanket.  I gave the sketch to her in lieu of the missing presents.

In Dallas I stayed with my friend Jacque, director of the Fine Arts department at St. Marks Academy. Her home is located on Junius Street in a picturesque older residential district near downtown.  Jacque has a lovely collection of antiques, among them a marvelous Queen Anne style chair upholstered in red brocade.  My next therapy, still hoping the suitcase would show up, was sketching this elegant chair.

I also went to see my friend Ashley, a superb painter who lives in a sprawling old church near the Central Expressway. He was in the midst of decorating for his annual Fizziwig's Christmas Eve party and I joined the fun. He wrote me later to say "The party was a blast!  We had a huge crowd that filled both rooms from 8pm to 2am.  The piano player got drunk and we had to drag him off the stage, but other than that, everything was merry and peaceful.  Wish you could have been here."

On the grand tour of the church, from belfry to basement, we ended up in Ashley's office where I found a fine old chair heaped with fabrics - there again was the crimson colour of Christmas, so I sat down and sketched.  I realized as I drew that I would have a wonderful triptych when all of the chairs were seen together. The Christmas Chairs. When I arrived back at Jacque's that evening, good news!  My suitcase had been found in San Antonio and was on its way to me in Dallas.  When it was delivered, gifts were joyfully distributed. And this year, my little homespun story and the resulting sketches are my gifts to share with you. Happy Holidays from my home in Toronto! Love, Selia