Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Stir Crazy


8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

I was sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office last week. Waiting. And sketching in my ever-present sketchbook. In comes this very small and very ancient old man. And his very small and ancient wife. And their caretaker who proceeds to apologize for the two of them. They have dementia. In the course of my waiting, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of this little demented couple's conversation. Mostly centered around food. The husband said, "Yeah, some people sure know how to make stew." Maybe 30 or 40 times. His wife was OK with that--she sweetly agreed with him every time. I made a note that if you're going to go a little looney it's actually very polite if your spouse goes with you. Not sure how you work the timing thing but, nevertheless, it's a good plan. So this painting was going to be about...stew. But instead I think I captured my feelings about being trapped in the waiting room with the husband and the wife and the stew...stir crazy!

4 comments:

Mandy Saile said...

Your entry today made me laugh...it would be only to polite to go senile at the same time wouldn't it, ha ha...they must have been very sweet. Not only did I enjoy your image today, but your writing as well, thanks. Mandy

Brenda York said...

Thanks, Mandy. You gotta laugh about it. Otherwise you'd cry! Maybe one half of the couple loses it first and drives the other one crazy...? I'm thinking about it too much...Thanks for stopping by!

Sue J said...

Great painting; great story.
Maybe *she* didn't have dementia but decided 'anything for a quiet life'. Thanks for sharing :-)))

Brenda York said...

Ha! You're quite right...I hadn't thought of that scenario! Even better...