The Turquoise Table

in
bookhorizontal.jpg

Shortly before I purchased The Bungalow, I heard about the book, The Turquoise Table, by Kristin Schell. It’s about how Kristin, on a mission “to love her neighbors,” managed to create a stronger sense of community with her friends, family and, yes, even strangers.

She started by taking an ordinary picnic table, painting it turquoise and setting it outside in her front yard. Then, she would go outside in the mornings, with coffee mug in hand, and invite others to join her there. As she has said, “to hang out and do life together.”

Kristin’s intentions inspired me to buy the book. And, once I had the hardback in my hand, I didn’t put it down until I had finished reading each and every word.

I loved The Turquoise Table, and I shared Kristin’s desire to bond with those around her in new and more meaningful ways. In its own way, the book explains why I so wanted to spend part of my life in Galveston, in a neighborhood built in the 1920s, when big front porches with swings encouraged neighbors to stop by and sit a spell.

e83baa59-d770-40ef-88e5-abcff063bf46.c10 copy.jpg

Today, a turquoise table sits in the back yard of The Bungalow. It was the first thing I bought for the house! I found it at Tuesday Morning, and it had already been painted turquoise. I bought it on the spot and paid someone to deliver to my home in Houston. Then, it sat in my garage for nearly three months. Later, i paid someone else to deliver it to The Bungalow - right after the new cedar fence was installed. Unlike Kristin, it never dawned on me (until later) that I too could have bought an ordinary picnic table right here in Galveston and painted it myself …and saved myself a lot of hassle and delivery fees!

Oh well…Like Kristin, I’ve loved sharing my turquoise table with others. When friends or vacation renters stay at The Bungalow, they always comment on the turquoise table - and on the copy of The Turquoise Table I leave out in plain view for all to see. Many have taken photos of themselves sitting at my table and forwarded them on to me. I can’t tell you how much I really love that!