The only patio I
have these days is off the front of my house, near the driveway. This is because the one out back is overgrown. The
front one is devoid of character, antiseptic and gives you a front row seat
into the lives of everybody around the neighborhood. You see them come and go. I
really do not find it a peaceful place where I can unwind and relax, much less
read a book, because we are on display
out there too. But it is all I have to work with, so I reluctantly sit there.
For a while now, I have wanted to put a canopy or umbrella over the small table
we have out there to block out the sun during the hottest part of the
afternoon. My husband was not on board with this, so I let it go. But when my
best friend showed me hers on Skype, I was smitten. It was charming. The
perfect setting to read or drink a glass of tea or lemonade. So I was
determined to make my patio more hospitable too. After looking around at the
local garden shops and superstores I zeroed in on one umbrella I liked, really
liked.
But the trouble was it
was too expensive. And it was too large and heavy to accommodate our small
area. So once again, I let my dream go and stopped trying to make this front patio a
cozy retreat... because it just isn’t going to be. End of story. Then I found
myself shopping in a Kmart that was going out of business. There in a bin were
some patio umbrellas for under $29. All
had been opened and rummaged through and missing parts. But I found one similar
to the expensive one I had been looking at elsewhere, sitting at the bottom of the bin, still sealed.
It was lightweight and designed for smaller spaces. I grabbed it and
brought it home.
Then, I sprung the
discovery on my husband. He was not thrilled one way or another that I had found
something. But he opted to set it up for me that night. Suffice to say I was
tickled pink by the prospect of having it put in place.
He took the stand
Then the umbrella
And put them together.
Then sat down to admire his accomplishment.
It turned out to be
the perfect fit.
I was duly impressed.
Now I’m ready to
rumble.
or READ.
