Tumblewords

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Monday, September 10, 2007

My Imaginary Life


changed decade by decade, sometimes day by day.

As a child I dreamed of living in a library which shelved every book written and held an unlimited supply of paper and pens.

Later, my imaginary life included a restaurant at the library in order to avoid shopping and cooking.

I imagined a partner full of humor and intelligence who liked to travel and converse.

Later, I added a caretaker who knew how and when to dust, vacuum, prop up the fence and re-do the peeling paint on the house (inside and out) and who could mow and water the lawn as well as check the air in the auto tires.

Then I added a Michelle Kaufmann house, with a view aimed at the sun, to my imaginary life as well as high-speed internet.

Now, I have found a new imaginary life which is more fact than fiction. I live alone in an old ranch style house with canned food and a microwave, a Roomba vacuum which keeps the floors clean, and a computer with access to the largest library in the world. I key in my order for whatever I need and it appears at my front door. And, I have ordered DSL which may arrive soon.

The highlight of this more recent remake is that I have e-mail, telephone contact and weekend visits with incredible family members as well as strangers who are beginning to feel like family.

Who would have thought that I'd eventually produce this dream life? I reserve the right to alter portions of my imaginary life.



Tree of Change, small watercolor sketch by Sue

Prompted by Writers Island

40 comments:

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

Sue, your artwork is truly lovely, and you are a very interesting lady! I've noticed you around before, but never managed to connect. Now I will visit here more often!

Lea said...

What a delight, your words and watercolor. Thank you for taking me on your journey and for your visit... the sharing of words and our imaginations is precious...

Beau Brackish said...

Great take on the prompt. Isn't it amazing how customized our lives have become? With the internet, we have a library, restaurant, department store, phone and Roomba repairman all at our fingertips.

Thanks for the visit! I agree, your artwork is amazing.

Clare said...

Hi Sue! I love the way your imaginary life and real one transformed into the wonderful home and life you have today. Great details. And your watercolor is really beautiful!
:)

Robin said...

When I was thinking about how to approach this prompt last night, my husband's response was "but you're living your imaginary life". You've just captured exactly what he meant. Delightful. Just delightful.

Rob Kistner said...

You are possessed of wonderful and diverse talents... I always enjoy stopping by. ;)

I am very pleased you made your way to Writers Island. Hope you come ashore every Tuesday.

patti said...

That's the beauty of an imaginary life - you can change it at whim. Love the bit about strangers becoming friends.

paris parfait said...

I love how your imaginery life has evolved and how you "reserve the right to alter portions" of same. It sounds like a lovely real-life situation.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to have brought your imaginary life into reality. Lovely watercolor, too!

Anonymous said...

Your words made so much sense. I felt as if they were speaking for me.

paisley said...

now that is a dream i think we can all share!!!!

Becca said...

How true - so many of the things we take for granted in our lives now would have been figments of the wildest imaginations just a few decades ago.

Fun take on this prompt - I add my voice to the others - Your art is breathtaking :)

Regina said...

I know that if we dream it we can live it... it sounds like you have!
What an inspiration to all of us in making our dreams come true!

GreenishLady said...

Isn't it wonderful when our dreams do start to become reality? My imaginary life has been mine too, but just for short visits. Still, there is great power in visualisation, and Rob may have started something very powerful for many of us who are voicing our dreams today.

sister AE said...

Oh! I came to visit after you commented on my post about audiences and here you have something that doesn't sound "business-like" at all! And I mean that in a good way. If you find it difficult, I encourage you to keep this up because it is working.

BTW - I love the idea of food delivered to my library-home - with a caretaker! Sounds delightful!

Deb said...

I like your take on the prompt. And "reserving the right" is a wonderful phrase here!

I wish I could see the painting up close--the pattern of the "frame" fascinates me.

lissa said...

I like the line "I reserve the right to alter portions of my imaginary life." which can also be true of real life. Great detailed thoughts that I myself would have like to have written. An enjoyable post.

Cherie said...

Love the peace, serenity and inspiration your place has created!

Gill said...

Isn't it wonderful how we can manifest our imaginary lives, with a little creative thought?
It seems yours is a work in progress, like most of us as well. I believe we have the power to create any life we want.
xo
Blue
(Great art btw!)

Tammy Brierly said...

I'd say you're living your dreams. Beautiful art!

Left-handed Trees... said...

I loved reading this...a very interesting way of looking at technology and progress.
Love,
D.

Anonymous said...

wow, you're living the life I always wanted, but couldn't get. And to see that it's your dream too, how fantastic. This post is really inspiring. Thank you!
That painting is really beautiful. :)

rel said...

Sue,
Thank you. I've had similar thoughts relating to the internet and it's ability to create our imaginary lives, but it never coalesced in my mind as clearly as you've put it here.
rel

Pauline said...

sounds the perfect life to me...and I like that you reserve the right to change it. That way, your life will always be the way you want it to be.

Cassiopeia Rises said...

Sue, what a great imaginary life you have written. Well done and while you are at it, could you send the maid over to my house? :-)
Loved it.

love-bd

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the light, lilting tone of your imaginary piece, as well as the gratitude and optimism it conveys.

Anonymous said...

I also feel like I'm living a life that I used to only imagine - I like the comment about reserving the right to change the details of this "imaginary" life - things could always get even better!

Your watercolor is lovely, I like your style. I'm just beginning to watercolor - any suggestions about good teaching websites, books etc.?

Nice to meet you!

mks said...

I loved this the transition from imaginary life to real with the option to change is fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Dreams do come true.
Your artwork is just lovely.
Thanks for taking the time to come visit mine.
Take care

Jessica said...

the perfect life is always in progress, it seems. It's nice to see that you are intentionally creating yours. (I also once dreamed of living in a library as a child, btw.)

Jo said...

gorgeous.... really enjoyed your post! And thanks for visiting my site again!

J

Anonymous said...

You,
Sue,
inspire me,
you
really
do.

Rose

xo

Anonymous said...

It's an amazing life.

Boricua in Texas said...

It sounds like a great life. Your artwork is indeed very pretty.

Thanks for visiting my blog last week and leaving a comment.

daringtowrite said...

Well done! Talk about the power of imagination!

Odessa said...

i really enjoyed this. and ongratulations for living your imaginary life! =)

Giggles said...

Wonderful life, mine is so similar. Except my adult daughter and her boyfriend live with me! Isn't life grand! Really nicely done!

Peace Giggles

Rethabile said...

Nicely done. Enjoyed travelling with your imagination.

ren powell said...

I'd also like to change the proportions of my imaginary lives.

(beautiful water color as well, Sue!)

Lucy R. E. said...

thanks for stopping by, Sue. i'll be sure to update you as my "imaginary life" becomes real and emerges in various adapted forms as yours has. :) your work is just lovely.