Tales of a Traveling Table

  Years ago, a hurricane named Katrina did a lot of damage around here.  With the terrific winds and exceedingly high storm surge, all sorts of debris was washed into the marshes, yard and wooded areas.   Some of this "stuff" was hauled away while other just stayed put depending on where it landed.  If, for instance, a piece of furniture was far out in the marsh or acres away in the woods, it just stayed to rot down and become part of the landscape eventually.  Mother Nature has a way of reclaiming its own so biodegradable things merely went back to being earth.  Other items will be found years and years from now.  This does not surprise me, in the least.

  One item that particular hurricane washed into the marsh at my cousin's house was a small table or bench.  There it sat for a good six years going unseen in the tall grass. Then came Tropical Storm Lee. This small storm smacked us pretty good and dumped some more debris in the area.  My cousin, being the wonderful person she is, found the little lost table while cleaning her yard.  Michelle called me.  "Hey Cuz, want a table?"  She needn't say more...she knew I would.  So, I became the owner of the hurricane table.

  Now, figure this.  This table originated somewhere...was bought by someone...taken by a hurricane...sat six years in a marsh...found by Michelle...was given to me.  Wow!  That, in itself, is some "Tale of a Traveling Table"!  But there is more......

  Not one to leave well enough alone, I scrubbed, sanded and redid the tiny table.  I painted a "story" in pictures on the top.  The rebus told the story of the table thus far...well, at least of what I knew.  I was pleased with my work and kept the little table in the living room as a conversation piece.  (It did strike up a good many of those!)  But neither the tale nor the travels ended there.  My sister came one day and remarked that she really liked the table.  "It would go perfect on my porch!"  So, the Traveling Table was on the move once again.  Susan took the little table home with her.  That was three years ago.  But there is more....

  Just recently, my sister and her husband sold their home and bought a camper.  They are on a new adventure camping out in National Parks around this great country.  I admire their tenacity in their new move. What a great time they will have exploring together!  But, to make this move, they had to part with furniture and most of their other belongings. Soooo....it was only a matter of time before a trailer backed up to my front door.  Uh, oh.  Sure enough among the other goodies that she brought "home", there was the little hurricane table.  The Traveling Table had made yet another move albeit this one back here.  Without knowing the history behind the table pre-Hurricane Katrina, this makes the eighth move for the piece of furniture.  I cannot say that many pieces would endure such abuse!  As for now, it sits in the Grandlittles' playroom where it can be surrounded by the happiness it deserves...if a piece of furniture can have feelings!

  Will this be the final resting spot for the Traveling Table?  I am not sure.  It is welcome to call the Little Bayou House its home for as long as it "feels" comfortable.  But if it ever gets that urge to travel, I am sure the next place will welcome it with open arms.  Oh...I did see Darling Daughter eyeing it the other day.  I think she mentioned that it would look nice on her patio.  Well, since she has this penchant for Coastal items, I don't think she could go wrong gathering this piece in amongst her other furniture.  It does, indeed, have a lot of Coastal "ties".  Perhaps the Traveling Table will be on the road again soon...bringing smiles wherever it goes!