Marriage is Not Always Black and White
10/16/2006 01:40 PM by Gretchen Schauffler
I love to read the New York Times WEDDINGS AND CELEBRATIONS section every Sunday. I find it interesting because with each couple’s photo there is information about their background—education, occupations, and parental history—a kind of human resource resume. What I like most is that one couple is featured each week, and their story includes why they were attracted to each other. Recently, I was thrilled to read about an emotional poet/color lover, Carley Wellman, and her new husband, an uptight, routine-loving scientist, Dr. Kevin McAbee.
The article ends with his observation about their new life together. “I try not to see things in black and white anymore,” he says, adding, “Our whole life is color.”
They met because her purple cat needed surgery and he was the vet. Of course, she is aware that most people do not see the purple in her cat, only gray. I can imagine how she called the cat purple in hopes that someone would finally take real notice, and then, through this miracle of nature called color, it would take his or her breath away. It certainly did for the doctor.
He claims that all of his previous girlfriends were scientists. “This was the first person in my life who described to me dreams about a purple cat. In my field, people would say, ‘Oh she is a crazy New Yorker,’ but I just wanted to talk to her forever.”
When he came over to her apartment, she had carrots and eggplants hanging in her kitchen. He asked why and she said, “I love their shape and color. So many people just eat them and do not look at them.”
The story goes on to describe the wedding decorations—orange flowers in wine bottles, a mobile resembling walking sticks, strings of orange peel—as well as their current Denver, Colorado, bungalow with tangerine, eggplant, and egg-yolk colored walls. Dr. McAbee mentions he has made peace with the color purple.
It was a wonderful surprise to find a wedding story about how color can be a powerful metaphor for discovery, love, and transformation! Truly, color can change your mind, open your heart, and when perfect, take your breath away.
Gretchen Schauffler
Artist and Founder of Devine Color®
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Hi Gretchen – I must confess to having the same addiction to the NY Times wedding section. When you read it online rather than print the pictures are in color which only adds to the whole story. The main photo online for this couple is wonderful…the guests are surrounding the newlyweds and the photographer captured the groom looking up and smiling….the energy, the color, the life….!!!!
Thanks
Christine
— Christine 11/06/2006 05:37 AM #
looking for colors
— Kay Rogers 11/09/2006 09:56 AM #
I read that article and remember thinking it was one of the most “colorful” the NYT has printed in a long time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts which are in complete harmony with my own. Great blog and & great paint! :)
— Rochelle 11/09/2006 12:13 PM #