Red

Megan inspired me with her talk of fashion.  With the advent of deep fall (our mountains got a dusting of snow this week) I needed sweaters.  I pulled them all down out of the top of my closet onto my floor - a heap of brown and blacks, grays and steel blues.  I sorted the XLs from the Ls so I could find them easily and there at the bottom was a bright red sweater - size M nonetheless.  It was a throwback to a skinnier time when I dressed in smart, business clothes.  I love that sweater and as I have modulated up through the sizes, I have never been able to get rid of it.

Red is fabulous.

Bill Blass said "When in doubt, wear red."

The red of the sweater reminded me of a story of a fabulous woman - Minerva Tiechert.  A western woman and a phenomenal painter.  She trained for a few years at an art school back East.  One evening, close to graduation, there was to be a celebratory dinner and Minerva had been asked to give a toast.  She stood up in a bright red dress and quoted part of Eugene Field's poem "Red."

ANY color, so long as it's red,
Is the color that suits me best,
Though I will allow there is much to be said
For yellow and green and the rest;
But the feeble tints which some affect
In the things they make or buy
Have never--I say it with all respect--
Appealed to my critical eye.

Through acres and acres of art I've strayed
In Italy, Germany, France;
On many a picture a master has made
I've squandered a passing glance:
Marines I hate, madonnas and
Those Dutch freaks I detest;
But the peerless daubs of my native land,--
They're red, and I like them best.

'Tis little I care how folk deride,--
I'm backed by the West, at least;
And we are free to say that we can't abide
The tastes that obtain down East;
And we're mighty proud to have it said
That here in the versatile West
Most any color, so long as it's red,
Is the color that suits us best.
 

Incedentally, she spoke with such charisma that no one noticed that she only drank water, not the red wine that was served that night.

This is a tip of the hat to a fabulous woman.