Ode To Seuss

Of course, artists need a studio ...

but they also need an office!

for me, one place for painting with colors,

the other for painting with words...

(and yuck, paper work)

My office with computer screen,

a mini studio

for the graphic creative side,

The hallway between them

worn and trampled.

An office is not a happy word, it seems!

So mine had to be a playful

and inspirational space.

Being a long time fan of Dr Seuss and

all children's books...

it already looked like a Children's Library.

Remember how the Librarians

would stand books

upright and put a correlating prop, toy

or stuffed animal next to it?

I had loved that!

My office came with a wall

of shelves to do just that.

Next to Harold's Purple Crayon

is a box of crayolas,

Stellluna's stuffed self

hangs next to the book,

and Winnie the Pooh sits next to his

color edition.

Cat in the Hat is well represented,

with an antique version of him,

and my own tall red and white striped hat

(tho still not my favorite character,

I am still reviewing why that is so.)

A limited edition print of the

Lorax 'speaking for the trees.'

(my most beloved Seuss figure.)

and a Sam I Am quote about not liking,

Green eggs and Ham.

A few summers back,

someone whose love for the same

found her way to the desert and me.

Her collection of Children's books

unparalleled to mine or anyone else.

Evenings were spent reading them

out loud and wondering over the illustrations.

And there was 'Ping'

the little Chinese duck that

misses the Chinese boat.

I was surprised when,

I nearly wept,

having it in my hands again.

Not much a story, really

but I hadn't seen it since I was six

when I evidently knew every image

and page by heart!

(If there was ever a time

I was tempted to indefinitely

borrow something?

...it was that book!

But I didn't and am glad for

the continued opportunity

to look at it when visiting!)

Don't we all have a book like that?

Or three or four?

The lessons and images, timeless.

When was the last time you read

Horton out loud, not to your child

or grandchild but to yourself,

or a friend for her fiftieth birthday

or to a sleeping feline?

It's rhythm and rhyme magic!

So in operation revamp my home

the Seuss theme expanded into

a red striped wall

(for you know who,

who I still don't really like)

and a painting completes the wall

that I call Ode to Seuss

or Sing, Cindi Lou Who, sing!

Influences of Suess show up everywhere

I am certainly not his only fan!

I know someone who reads Green Eggs and Ham

annually, to inspire her sales people.

And recently on 'Grey's Anatomy'

(a brilliantly written series...

and I only watch those that are.)

A young Dr. hears Meredith complaining

about what she wants and is not getting

in life,

he reminds her of Cindi Lou Who singing

around the empty Christmas tree

after the Grinch took everything, still happy.

He smiles slyly and says to her,

"SING, Cindi Lou... just Sing."

Pam Piper Rain