Lois' Million Dollar Red Desk

Lois and Petree (circa 1973)

Once upon a time there were two girls who became the best of friends the day they met in elementary school . There was Petree (on the right) and Lois (on the left). Now our childhood was very different from one another. I lived in a cookie cutter baby boomer house with a mom, a dad, and a brother (pest). My mom was a neat freak (still is) and so our house was not all the hospitable to me having friends over. In fact, for most of my childhood, my dad, my brother and I spent our days in the basement (having fun, really--it was a 60's thing). I longed for a purple room, having a horse, or a dog and, mainly, freedom.

Lois on the other hand, had a hard working Mom who was a single parent (really taboo in those days) who worked at a little diner on Gravois. Lois had a bunch of siblings--5 in all. While her mom was away working, her feisty grandma watched over the house. They also had a dog--a chiwawa (sp?). I LOVED that dog. Her mom had her bedroom in the dining room so that the kids could have the bedrooms. And it was PURPLE! The kids had freedom, they had a dog and they could go to the movies to see R-rated movies. Once Lois was going to see "Billy Jack" at the Crest theatre but my mom wouldn't let me. I was crushed. Ihave no idea why I wanted to go so badly---but I did. Maybe because my cool friend Lois was going!

I adored Lois. One year we went as Sonny and Cher for Halloween. (Hilarious--my mom gave me her long hair wig and it fell in puddle as we dodged the rain that night). We were inseparable. Then we came to cross roads--Junior High. Her free spirit and coolness led her to be friends with the other cool kids, which I decidedly was not (thanks mom for the elastic waist band paints-Yikes). I found other friends who weren't cool either. And so our paths went different ways.

Then...our 30th High School Reunion came along and boom--Lois was in charge. She turned out way cooler (which I am sure surprised my mom who saw nothing but disaster for a child from a single parent home whose mom let them see "BillyJack"!). Lois is now an executive at Mastercard and well, I am unemployed. Anyway, we decided to get dinner together and we talked for about 4 hours and closed the restaurant down. It turns out we have a lot in common and it is as if no time had passed since the 6th grade.

Lois has supported all my furniture painting and has commissioned a red desk. Well, Lois, here it is...it looks more tomatoey than it is. But it's in "million dollar red" --for my long lost million dollar friend.

Theresa's Aqua and Rasberry Polka Dot Desk

Of Jill's three daughters, Theresa is in the middle. Last year she got her own room so that she could play with her dolls, and horses, and organize the family business. She is a feisty, a red-head with a passion for riding horses (like me). I personally knick-named her "Sassafrass"! Almost 11 years old, she is very old for her age, saying some of the funniest things...like the time she called me and left me a message about hooking up for lunch. "Have your people call my people" was the message! Anyway, she wanted a desk of her own...one with lots of drawers for all her valuable writings and drawings. She regularly draws up contracts for the family. She wanted to have polka dots like her big sis, Elise, has on her trunk and of course her name in large letters! So here is Theresa's aqua , rasberry and lime desk and chair--with polka dots and her name:

I can't wait to see how she fills it with her stuff.

And here she is with her baby sister, Addie (my god daughter--next on the list for a desk of some sort):

Love you Sassafrass and Sweet Pea!