When The Hubster and I married way back in 1988, he already had a home which was furnished with his stuff and also stuff his former girlfriend had left behind. One of those items was a nice, wooden cutting board; one of the expensive ones. I am not sure if it was 'his' or 'hers', and it didn't matter. Because the one I brought to the combined household was a molded plastic one with a rooster on it. Probably purchased at Wal-mart. So the wooden cutting board with it's smooth surface and heavy, solidness was especially appreciated by me.
For years the wooden cutting board stayed on the kitchen counter and was used for chopping and cutting...like they are intended to be used.
One year and three months and 28 days after our wedding, Courage was born, joining Arthur, my 8.5 year old daughter from my first marriage.
The cutting board began being used as a 'lap desk' for Arthur to do homework on, and for both girls to bear down on when coloring. It was used as a serving tray when someone was sick in bed. It served as a platform for small toys (such as 'Little People') which wouldn't stand up well on carpet and bedspreads. More and more purposes were being found for the cutting board.
One day, I went to get the cutting board for one use or another, and when I pulled it from it's storage spot on the counter I nearly fainted. There were crayon drawings on the top of it! I nearly screamed! Then I flipped it over and here on the other side was another crayon drawing. I was shocked and disappointed. I felt like both the girls, now aged 13 and 5, were old enough to know better than to draw on my stuff or deface things in our home. But when I sat down to look at the drawings, my heart melted and the anger and disappointment dissipated.
I could tell these drawings were made by Courage. Arthur has a LOT of talents, but drawing wasn't really one of them. On one side, there is a pink rabbit, with very long ears and what looks like 'wings' and there is a huge flower beside it. On the other side is a house, with many windows, fluffy blue clouds and a smiling sun, and smoke coming from the chimney. They were both happy pictures. They came from the imagination of my five year old, and they expressed happiness and calmness.
Later, I asked Courage why she drew on Mommy's cutting board. She replied, well you never told me not to. She is right. I never did.
We still use the cutting board, but not for cutting food! Now it is a serving tray, a lap desk, and when covered with tin foil it becomes a sturdy cake board for church functions. Also, wrapped in foil or a towel, I use it for carrying hot casseroles to church and family functions. The rest of the time it sits in my bedroom by my desk, bringing me a smile when I see that bunny with big ears!
