There I was. Sitting on my cane chair outside the Walmart Superstore on Bashford Manor Lane, waiting for my TARC3 ride, enjoying the crisp December breeze, and settling into my comfortable people-watching stance.
I had been to a Doctor’s appointment and this stop finished my grocery shopping so my free people surveying time was a plus for today. My rolling office crate was piled full of Walmart grocery bags, this being my last shopping adventure before Christmas.
Through years of training in my art booth, I slip into that watching mode when public persons least expect it. Out of the corner of my eye, I can gauge whether the young couple talking quietly about a painting are serious buyers or whether the young man standing outside the booth wants to discuss a work or left alone. An artist can be entertained with simple tasks. This being one, I began following the steps of customers coming and going through the busy parking lot. I was interrupted when a nicely dressed, elderly African-American gentleman walked up to me and pressed a folded ten-dollar bill into my hand. I looked up and shook my head an indication to show that I was neither homeless nor destitute. I pushed the bill back at him.
“Take this.” He insisted placing the bill firmly back into my hand. “And Merry Christmas!” He turned and went into the Superstore on Bashford Manor Lane not looking back to see my utter amazement.
I sat on my cane chair staring down at the folded bill and felt a tap on my arm. Glancing up I saw a sweet, round-faced lady who extended her hand which held a one-dollar bill. Again, shaking my head did little good when the Christmas donor saw the opportunity to copy the noble gentleman’s generosity and share. All I could do was smile and say. “Thank You!”
I was reminded of an occasion a few years ago during the Christmas season while shopping at a Dollar Tree Store in Fort Worth, Texas. Duyn had just dropped me off there to buy a few items. Along with my wallet in my purse, I had brought several dollars in a change purse and stood in an aisle counting my coins to make sure that I had enough coins for my small purchase.
When I approached the register to pay the clerk, the lady behind me spoke to the cashier, ”I am paying for hers.”
Whether she saw me counting my change and thought perhaps I did not have enough money, I will never know. I just know at Christmas time, angels appear and when they hand you money, be gracious and say, “Thank you,”
Since I had forgotten that lesson, I guess Bashford Manor was my reminder to be on the lookout for helpers without wings. Next year maybe they will double the money?
FRAME SHOPS
MACINTOSH FRAME SHOP
Mr. Macintosh was the first framer I met when I began my art career. I was introduced to him by members of the Southwest Artists organization as a gentleman who had quality frames at reasonable prices.
A visit to his Frankfort Avenue location proved to be very interesting. He was an “old school” framer that I respected for his skill and knowledge of using time and materials. I was surprised that he used a hand-held glass cutter and not a wall model that could be drawn down with one stroke.
He demonstrated the scoring action and snapped off the glass piece with a precision gained after many years of practice.
His sense of humor caught me off guard while I was standing in line at his front counter waiting for my turn to pick up an ordered frame.
He kept a straight face as he spoke to his customer and glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, “Artists are a dime a dozen!”
I answered his comment with a laugh because he knew without us artists, he would be out of a job.
FRAMERS SUPPLY
Located on Fourth Street near Winkler, Framers Supply was my go-to place after I learned to use a corner vice and mat cutter. True to its name, the establishment had everything from wholesale mats and frames to doublestick tape and brads of all sizes.Shopping trips found me choosing sometimes simple design frame stock and sometimes elaborate from their display wall. I could always count on a friendly conversation with the customers and staff while waiting on chop service to my selections.