Chairs for Charity: Life of a Chair: Before and After

Here I was after a buff and one fresh coat of paint.

Now... after a complete transformation, here I am... Ta Dah!

I hope to get around town and see life. I just hope this lady quits taking so many photos of me! I mean, give a chair a break lady!

Err. Um. Anyway. Since we do have some photos of last night's celebrity signing, I should share them with you in case you are interested, right?

Last night, my owner took me along with her family to meet David Slonim, the author and illustrator. He gave a very humorous and encouraging presentation. One of my favorite messages that he shared was that it is ok to make mistakes and it is important to try and try again. That is a great message for all artists, especially all of you out there who are creating and redesigning chairs for the parade and auction! After his presentation, there was a long line of people waiting their turn for him to sign the new books they purchased or brought along. I am just a chair, so I just sat next to him, waiting my turn for David to sign me. I mean, after all, this is a BOOK signing, not a CHAIR signing event. I know my place.

After the last signing, I could tell he was so tired. He had driven over two hours and given several presentations all day. It was late, but he was kind to follow through and help *complete me.* He quickly opened his easel, squeezed some paints on some plastic wrap and just started painting.

He was very quick and had a great sense of humor. I was only expecting a quick doodle and his signature, but he really went all out on this! I think he liked me. He kept asking if I had any sisters so he could have a chair just like me for his home. I just smiled. Here we are together.

I will miss him. He helped me be who I am today! Maybe he will come to the auction in June and take me home with him! As my current owner graciously says thank you and shakes his hand, she picks me up and carries me away. As we are about to leave the school, I see some of the artist's original paintings leaning against the wall. I am not sure why, but I feel some sort of strange attachment to them. We must be related somehow! Aren't they gorgeous?