A fresh coat, shining brightly
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” - William Arthur Ward
"So, there was this Tik Tok I was watching yesterday about phenomenally bad gay porn movies from the 80s, and I just had to find it after I watched the trailer," I shouted to Corb after moving the shop vac back into the cellar.
"Of course you did," Corb replied sarcastically from his perch atop the ladder under the foyer, where he was working on painting ceiling stars.
"It's called Brian's Boys, and this guy--who I always thought was cute, actually--"
"Of course you did." Exact same tone.
Ignoring you, dear. "So Brian owns this garage, where all these guys work for him. And they all get horny at the same time and...after that happens...the car they are working on catches fire..."
"Of course it does. Must have been all that gay sex."
"...and so Brian orders his boys to do whatever they have to do to get expensive new parts and get the car back in shape. You can just guess what happens next."
"Of course I can." Corb paused and made a face, putting down his brush. "I don't think I like the way these stars are turning out. Too blotchy."
Oh, the stars? We're in the middle of a home renovation project, just in time for Thanksgiving on Thursday. It's been one that's been many months in the making. Corb's vision was to take our somewhat drab "Bonjour Beige" walls and make them a bit more dramatic, replacing the 11-year old beige with a deep "Anchors Aweigh" (why do all paint colors sound a bit gay?) blue and a deep gold ceiling colour, with artwork thrown covering the old Victorian from fore to aft.
After a month off for his kidney stone surgery, he's been hard at work the past few weeks, racing against time. I of course have been helping out, although honestly, the only painting he allowed me to attempt where the bottom floorboards around the living room. And only the first coat.
I've found other ways to help out. After the shop vac, I turned to cleaning out the closet behind the hidden door on the wall. You can see it in the photo here:
"I'm kind of surprised we haven't heard from your mom today," I said, as started clearing out the doom box that had become the closet, filled with old toys from when Kaeden was eight, forgotten games, and the tool and crystals from Corb's business. "Honey, what's this?" I hold up pieces of a chandelier that looks like a broken octopus.
His face brightens. "Oh, I forgot about that project!" Then, back to his mom. "Me too. After she tried to get us to see Aunt Carol on Saturday and have breakfast this morning, I thought for sure she may pay a surprise visit to our house, to get a sneak peek of the project."
"She's being an awfully good girl today." I frown and set the octopus aside. "I do hope Greg is a good boy on Thansksgiving."
He nods. It was a topic we had been going over for a few weeks now. His brother Greg is the only one of the family invited that had surely voted for the big orange turd on election day and would be vocal about that fact. He had already taken the time to tell one of my friends on Facebook to go fuck themselves and had propositioned another to meet him after work to talk over the history of fascism.
We have seriously considered dis-inviting him. I suspect a lot of families in America may be wrestling with the same problem this Thanksgiving.
Better to get back to the topic of bad gay porn movies. "Anyway, there was one of Brian's boys that was looking for an exhaust to replace the one that had been burning, and he tried stealing one from another garage owner, who caught him in the act. You can only imagine how he had to repay him..."
My house during the fall. I am kind of loving my life right now. Things feel good personally, despite the feeling of doom for the country in the new year.
And, oh, the stars on the ceiling? A tribute to Kamala, from a line during her concession speech: "Only when it's dark enough can you see the stars."
Our stars intend to shine brightly, no matter what the night sky brings.