She is the first in line. With her collage and splash painting standing precariously between her carry on and camera bag, she reaches into her purse for her ID and hands it to the ticket agent at the United Airlines counter.
“Are you the artist?” asks the agent.
Looking behind her for the artist and finding none, she turns back to the agent and sputters, “No, this was just an exercise. I was playing with watercolors.”
“You should frame it,” she says.
Getting through airport security is always an adventure. The woman ahead of her fills five plastic bins. Toiletries, shoes, and various electronic devices tumble and spill as fellow travelers grab their belongings and scramble to make their flights. Grabbing her carry on items from the conveyor belt she shuffles back into her shoes and glances at her poster boards to see how they fared. The collage is still intact but the watercolor piece looks a little tattered. The gentleman standing beside her asks, “Are you an artist?” “No,” she replies. “Just playing in paint.” He smiles and says, “I like it.”
The airport is especially busy this morning, people bumping and jostling their way through the crowd, all in a very big hurry to get to their next destination. At least she’s early. She likes having time to dally a bit before catching her plane. Sourdough bread. Yes, she can’t leave San Francisco without a loaf of that. The line isn’t too long, thankfully. The woman in front or her chooses a thick, creamy soup ladled into a hollowed out, crusty sourdough bowl. For a minute she contemplates the same but the thought of savoring bits and pieces of that loaf on the long flight home is far more appealing. She reaches for a little jar of blueberry jam. The young man behind the cash register asks, “Are you the artist?” She looks at her watercolor splash and thinks, why not
“Yes,” she replies.
About the Author: Sue Ann Gleason
Nourishment guide, SoulCollage® Facilitator, and ‘wise business’ strategist, Sue Ann Gleason is a lover of words, a strong believer in the power of imagination, and a champion for women who want to live a more delicious, fully expressed life. She has been featured in Oprah and Runner’s World magazines and numerous online publications.
When not working with private clients or delivering online programs, Sue Ann can be found sampling exotic chocolates or building broccoli forests in her mashed potatoes.
You can connect with her in a few different places. Delicious freebies await you!
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Love this! I struggle sometimes with calling myself a “writer” or “runner”, but it’s good to remember that doing the act makes it true. Yes, you are an artist. xo
Yes you are an artist! I find it very hard to claim my skills too. Modesty to the point of vehement denial of talent was the norm for me growing up and I find it hard to shake the habit. X
this is so lovely, sue ann. not only the engaging way you tell your story, but the gradual ownership of your artistic talent. thank you for sharing this tale that needed to be told.
Oh the struggle of being who we are outwardly without all the noise from outside. Such a beautiful story of the inner world of a creative! I’m glad ‘she’ arrived at ‘YES’ Can you see me dancing on the hilltop in celebration with you?! 😉