Restoration

I have this wonderful friend from my previous church in Los Banos that recently moved into another home. About 3 or 4 years ago, I had gone to her house for lunch. Sitting in her living room was an old Edison Victrola. I complimented her on how lovely an antique she owned. She then asked me if I wanted it, because she really wanted it to be gone from her living room. I told her sure, I'd love it. When I asked how much, she said nothing, but we could work out a trade. So she was holding an auction for a good cause and asked me if I could make a nice give away basket for said auction in exchange. I said absolutely and made her a lovely Coffee Tray assemble. However, both our lives changed and we both got busy. I had forgotten all about the piece. So just last week, she shot me a picture and asked me if I still wanted her Victrola and if so when and where could her husband deliver it. So today was the day it was delivered to my Los Banos home.

When the boys put it in place in the living room, they immediately texted me and told me it was broken. I told them I knew that. They also took a picture for me and told me it was missing a grill on the front. For some reason I thought the sound horn was just setting in the middle of the cabinet, but it actually is bolted into the wood and is stationary there. So one of my sons took a picture of another Edison Victrola that matched the one we were gifted and it showed it with a grill. Well, I immediately went on internet and was able to find a grill to replace the one that was no longer there. It will have a different pattern than the original one he showed me. Also, I was able to find a vendor that supplies the cloth that goes behind the grill -- it will be a beautiful shimmering gold. My son also said that the door on the bottom was kind of falling off. I told him no worries, I would just get some small hinges from Home Depot to reattach it, because I want to be able to put some of my Pastor Greg Laurie books and other resources under it. Then he said, so pretty much it is a big decoration -- I told him exactly. Just like my Buelita's old radio I have that doesn't work, but sits beautifully in my hallway at the Los Banos home. I also have an old singer sewing machine, you know the kind with the ornate rod iron pedal on the bottom. I'm sure if I gave it some oil and thread, it would still work. That too, sits in the hallway looking very pretty with various glass bottles and a beautiful angel that sit on top of it to the side and back of the actual beautiful sewing machine with all the fancy filagree print all over it. I know my boys see junk. I see the beauty of the past and I think it is nostalgic to be able to look at those long time ago historic pieces.

I couldn't help but think how as we age, sometimes we are under appreciated and considered or perceived by some as old school boomers who don't have much to offer in terms of new innovative ideas. I often have to remind my children that the boomers were the innovators and that is why they had the basic start up ideas and inventions to make things even greater. It all began with an idea -- and very good ones if I might add. Recently I read that they were looking for individuals who could transcribe cursive handwriting. Now, now!!! One of my sons a couple years ago told me that I had to stop addressing my Christmas cards by using cursive and that I should just print out labels or print so that the postman could decipher clearly the addresses. I told him that I love my unique and beautiful cursive handwriting and will continue to use it until I could no longer use my hands. I miss seeing the different cursive writings that used to always be used on everything. It really identified that particular person who was sending you something.

There is an illustration about when someone is reaching the end of their time, that they want to be all worn out and sliding sideways in a cloud of dust into their grave. We want to be all tattered and recycled over and over again, until there is nothing left in us -- until we have served our entire purpose here on earth. Each scar and line on our body has a story to tell. In fact, if you have the opportunity to live a long and prosperous life, there are many stories to tell -- and for people even older than myself -- there is still so much wisdom to share and learn. Even though our bodies are worn and slower than when we were young, our insides and hearts are still very young -- the phrase young at heart comes to mind.

Also, because I'm a creative visual artist, I love to repurpose and restore items that are worn and need some extra love to bring them back for good use or even as part of art for display. Instead of filling landfills, I've used tin cans as canvasses and made them pretty items for display. There was a project I participated in called the Landfill Art Project where the organizer provided numerous artists with old hubcaps to create works of art for display in museums as part of an exhibit and also on an online gallery. Mine is pictured above -- Above The Rainbow Fly.

In our lives we are often given the opportunities of do overs. I have had several phases of restoration in my life. With each restoration, I've gotten stronger -- because usually there is a lesson to learn while going through the transformation. There have been broken times, sad times, disappointing times, grief and even times when we had to heal physically and mentally. For me, there were times of hopelessness. But getting through to the other side there is usually renewal. I personally put my strength in the hope and love of Jesus. If not here on earth, one day we will know what it is to be totally renewed and restored into the perfectly planned. individuals we were intended to be. Of course I am speaking about heaven and the whole plan of salvation.