Through the years, an artist learns to barter for painting services. Repair for my Volkswagen Campmobile, dental work for my daughter, tuition for my children, and then there were two chicken dinners.
Ann Wagner was a Black activist who had worked for our Aunt Mary Catherine and Uncle Joe.
She needed a face painter for her family’s Summer Homecoming and wanted to know what I would charge.
“Two chicken dinners,” I told her. “One for me and one for my sister, Jean.”
I recall those dinners were delightful at Otter Creek Park and we met many happy families who stood in line to pick rainbows and Garfields and Unicorns from my Display Boards.
When next we saw those families was the sad occasion of the funeral for Ann and Ralph’s son, Rubin. As I walked up the Canon Church steps, one little girl looked up at me and asked, “Aren’t you the lady who painted my face?”
I fought back tears as I answered her,” Yes. That was me.” This funeral was a sad occasion in contrast to the laughter we all had shared at Otter Creek.
During the very moving service the “Bishop” made the never to be forgotten remark, “Rubin got us to Canon!”
Time passed. Ann and Ralph suffered a great deal of damage to their home due to a fire. Restoring the home was a monumental task during which Jean and I were invited to Ann’s Birthday Party at a West End Restaurant. Three white people were in the celebration crowd of which Jean and I numbered two.
During the party, I was asked to say a few words about Ann.
“My sister and I knew about Ann for a long time before we met her,” I remarked. “ We would call home to talk to our Mother and the line would be busy. We would call back later and the line would still be busy. When we finally did talk with our Mother she would tell us, “Well, I was talking to Ann…”
The audience enjoyed a good laugh because everyone knew how much Ann liked to talk.
I then turned to Ann and said, “I have this old house I am restoring. Can you give me any tips?”
With that, the “Bishop” jumped to his feet and received thunderous applause, “Burn it! Burn it down!”