It was a lovely plan – a day spent at the art gallery.
I imagined myself wandering around (artistically), lost in thought, occasionally throwing out deep and insightful comments to my companion in reverential, hushed tones.
He would be impressed by the breadth of my knowledge, adding musings of his own.
Afterwards, we would sit in the cafe and contemplate the wondrous art we had seen over double-shot espressos and hand-crafted scones.
I guess we just weren’t in the mood. We scooted through the galleries, stopping short at odd, randomly-placed sculptures before moving on to the modern art section. We whizzed past each picture:
‘Nah.’
‘What’s that supposed to be?’
‘The Teenager could do better than that.’
‘Hey, check this out, it’s supposed to represent the dichotomy of suffering in an existential landscape’ (a canvas with two blobs on it).
‘Wow, this guy was pretty radical, he painted the frame too.’
‘Lunch?’
‘Yeah, let’s go.’
We ended up by the coast and looked out over the sea whilst waiting for the restaurant to open. My friend had a mischievous grin as he started bouncing in the seat of his wheelchair.
‘Seagull! Want seagull!’
‘Shut up, people are looking.’
‘Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream, ice cream.’
‘Shhhhhhh. People are staring.’
‘That’s the whole point. They probably think there’s something wrong with me anyway, sitting in a wheelchair. Wanna go on the boat. Boat, boat, boat. ‘
Thankfully, lunch passed without incident and we discussed everything and nothing about living with MS and whether it was acceptable to poke fun at ourselves and our disabilities.
We decided to round off the afternoon with a coffee. Queuing up, that mischievous glint returned to his eye. In a loud voice he announced ‘Aww, you’re the best carer I’ve ever had.’
And no, the ground did not open up and swallow me…
It might grow on him
Hi Mark,
The art or the wheelchair, lol?
X
It sounds like you both had a fun time!
Sometimes art can be so pretentious. Art is personal so if the artist cannot accept criticism then they should not exhibit.
I like that you are able to take a light hearted and self critical view of your own disabilities.
Hi Chris,
We sure did, it was a fabulous day!
You’re right, art is so personal and like anything creative, open to comment, just like this blog, lol.
After almost two years of fear and anxiety, sometimes humour is the best way to deal with adversity!
X
Art might grow
I’m sure it will! Think we were just having one of those daft days.
X
Sounds like a fun outing! That’s generally how I approach art museums too: “yep, uh huh, okay, nice, huh?, let’s eat!” Have you ever been with someone who insists on reading EVERY SINGLE PLACARD UNDERNEATH EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF ART? Lord, it’s tiring. I went to a museum with that person once, and only once!
Were people staring as your companion shouted out random things? Too funny!
Hiya CrankyPants!
I know exactly what you mean. I warned my friend beforehand that if he dared to stop and read every single blinking placard, I was going to walk (stumble) away. Can’t be doing with that. I much prefer the whizzing through, stopping at what interests me.
And yes, down by the seaside, people were staring big time. Probably why he decided to act up, love him. Was very (un-pc) funny though…
X
I think I like this chap! (“Chap”…still in use or hopelessly outdated like “peckish”? Trying to sound Continental, don’t you know.)
I think chap’s still in use, in an ironic way. Hopefully! I say it quite a lot. We say ‘bloke’ a lot in the UK too.
You are totes Euro-chic already my dear, don’t worry!
X