I like to name things. My car is Mama Cocha, Mother Ocean in Quechua; my house/property is Gratitude Sanctuary. I’ve been known to name days, clothing, events, trips…… My special recording pen is Penita. My most recent naming is a chair I bought just before my birthday.
A dear friend, Winona was visiting, and we went on an outing to a local second hand store. Just the week before I had told a class, “I’m sick of this chair (an old rocker I was sitting on;) I want something cozy.”
We walked into the store, and there she was, waiting just for me. An old, upholstered, just the right size to round out the living room, chair. I sat down. Wow. What a great chair! She leans back and rocks and swivels around 360 degrees without even a sound or squeak. Perfectly clean, soft velour; just what I like. Definitely cozy and truly perfect! Except – she’s orange.
If you had ever asked me what my least favorite color was, I would have said orange. I never wear orange and am not attracted to things orange. But there she was. And only $40! (I decided the store people put a low price on her because, well, who would buy an orange chair?) And of course, what’s Winona’s favorite color? Orange. Rocking in the chair with a big smile on her face, Winona told me she’d buy it for herself if she didn’t live so far away. (She lives in England.)
My perfect chair is orange. My living room has a purple velour couch named Purple, of course, and is full of deep red tapestries mostly from Peru and Guatemala. How would orange look in all that? Winona was clear, “YES, YES, YES.” I decided if the worker said she would fit in my car, I’d bring her home. She fit, and off we went.
The orange chair loves her new home, and I love having her. It feels as if she’s always been there. And when I put a small red, yellow and orange Guadalupe pillow on her, I suddenly knew her name. “The Guadalupe Chair.”
Now I’m into orange. I see the beauty of the color in her shiny (do I need to wear sunglasses to look at her?) upholstery. Everyone who meets her falls in love. They call her “Annie’s chair” (that can be her nickname;) and once they sit upon her, they don’t want to get up. Pretty powerful Being, this Guadalupe Chair.
Orange. In my most recent blog I wrote that last year was “a time of the dissolution of the ego” for me. Now that I’m in a new year, recent events led me to realize its name. I’m living “The Year of Orange Wholeness.” Any metaphor that comes to mind probably has some truth in it.
I think I’ve waited my whole life to get to this Year of Orange Wholeness, and I’m grateful to be here. As the ego moves down its path of dissolution, I’m seeing there’s a wellspring of surprises ahead. To begin with, who would have ever thought I’d buy an orange chair? Red, purple, orange, green plants, wood, feathers and statues fill my living room. I really enjoy surprising myself.
So far getting older is proving to be pretty interesting.
i love love love reading this post. you make me smile. i am happy to be the instigator of another transformative life event for you (this time a little gentler 🙂 bring on the year of orange wholeness!!
i love you and the guadalupe chair. here’s to having the chance to be together again soon.
Ha! I love it! I love that Winona convinced you to get an orange chair and that you went for it! It looks like the most incredible chair ever, and orange is a fabulous color – heck, isn’t it all about creativity and sexuality and sensuality and light and fire and warmth and wholeness and of course it would be the perfect embrace for a Guadalupe pillow!!!! Praise be unto the Year of Orange Wholeness!!! xoxox Love you!
I also name everything…cars etc. Names hold loving energy! Here’s to ORANGE CHAIR!
All of my pets over the past 30 years even have had their own last names and on all their vet records etc.
Dakota Blue ~my dog, Lucy Kline~ my cat, Holly Ewa ~my dog, Daisy Jewel ~ my dog, Tulip Treasure ~my dog , Lizzie Cowgirl ~my dog
and my adopted cows living at Sacred cow Sanctuary in GA (I’m vegan) who i named Satori MOO calf & Anand Molasses (a baby bull who loves molasses.)
Love this Annie! You had me smiling and giggling. Guadalupe Chair is gorgeous! My most recent naming is our new four runner – she’s Athena! She’s blue and lovely. Love you!
How creative! Go figure.
Love you Annie,
Michon
Well now, an orange chair must belong next to purple (complimentary colors vibrate with each other). She (Annie’s Guadalupe chair) probably just raised the vibration of your living room even higher! Can’t wait to sit in her.
Naming my year? Hmmm… The year of the mischievous heart .
Love your blog…inspiring, funny. Love you.
Jean
“Orange you glad” you’re so open to accepting and allowing? Then the perfect surprises appear! Yes, she’s lovely and a nice, comfy addition to your living room, your Guadalupe Chair. I’m happy for you!
I love your chair! It’s welcoming and playful, like sitting in the arms of joy. I’m glad she found you.