Beautiful Creations

I must have been around 8 or 9 years old when I got my own room. Greg, my oldest brother, left for college. Linda, second oldest, got married and moved out. Randy, third child, had the downstairs, and my sister Martha moved into Linda’s old room. It was a lovely room with hardwood floors, windows on two walls, and pretty French doors that opened up to our living area. That was Martha’s room, because she was next in line. I was the youngest, so I would now claim the bedroom that Martha and I had always shared. I was delighted.

I remember my mom walking in my newly assigned room and sitting on my bed next to me. I remember her asking me what ideas I had for fixing it up, now that it was all mine. I was surprised that it was up to me, but Mom assured me that it was my room and my choices. I could do whatever I wanted.

I remember the process clearly. First, with the help of my dad, I cleared everything out and scrubbed every inch of my new room until it was sparkling clean. Then it was time to pick out the colors. I opted for a dark brown, long shag carpet that fit wall to wall, even though it was a throw rug. The walls would be painted a light green, like grass on a summer day. Mom and Dad listened to my requests and they kept agreeing. They bought the brown carpet and green paint and asked no questions. It was only when I wanted to paint the ceiling bright blue, that they said no. Mom asked me why I picked those colors and I told her I wanted my room to look like a horse pasture. The brown rug for the dirt, the green walls for the hills and grass, and the blue was supposed to be the sky. I can still see her soft smile and feel the gentle tap of her hand on top of mine, “Good for you Kathryn Mae, good for you!”

We painted, laid the carpet, put a new comforter on my bed, and it was close to completion. I carefully cleaned and lined up my forty model horses on the shelves, and instead of in my closet, I put my favorite cowboy boots at the foot of my bed, just like the cowboys do on TV. I hung my horse posters using white thumb tacks at all four corners; putting countless holes in the wall trying to make sure no poster was even the slightest bit crooked.

When it was done, I remember closing the doors of my room so I would have complete privacy. I turned on my little radio and I sang, danced in my cowboy boots, and twirled around feeling happy and proud.

Though I didn’t admit it, I did miss Martha, but we had a door between our rooms so she was just on the other side of the wall, and that was comforting. Martha got to fix her room up as well. Her choices were much different than mine. She chose a pale pink paint for her walls. It was lovely and looked like a beautiful resting place for a young girl her age, but I’m telling you, I loved my horse pasture room.

I don’t know why this memory came to me, but I treasure it, and I wonder…if either of my sons had wanted to do that to their room, would I have let them? I think not, and that’s too bad. But props to my mom who didn’t care about how awful that brown carpet probably looked, or the ugly green paint that I simply had to have. She let me have fun and created a beautiful memory that I will carry with me forever. If I had said I wanted black, blue and yellow stripes on the walls, I think she would have said yes. I love her for that! We all have a spirit of creativity in us, and what a beautiful thing to be able to freely express it at such a young age.

As I grew up, the green walls were painted over in a more neutral color. The posters of horses were replaced with pictures of rock bands and boys. But I will always love horses, and will never forget my pasture room.

“The Lord has painted the world beautiful with yellow sunflowers that stand proudly facing the sky. The rocks and seashells, each so exquisite and unique. The stars, the moon and sun, all brilliant works of art. The hills and trees, the lakes, ponds, and oceans, and those rolling hills where the horses roam and graze. Celebrate the colors, breathe in the beauty of it, and create a place that makes you want to sing and twirl around in delight!” ~Kathryn M. Inman