The Yellow Chairs
By Susan Kottler | December 7, 2020
I bought the yellow chairs at a yard sale years ago. “They’re yard art,” a friend declared. But they didn’t fit well in my lumpy backyard, so they sat in the garage for many seasons.
In the spring of 2020, we were fearfully getting used to socially-distanced visiting. I moved the yellow chairs from the garage to the front yard. That’s where I’ve sat, distanced from friends, in the breezy spring, the sweltering summer, and now the chilly fall.
A few feet away, inside the front door, there’s a living room with comfortable chairs and heat or air conditioning if you need them. But we’ve been told not to let anyone into our homes. Many a glass of wine and cup of tea have been sipped among friends in that room, but we’re not supposed to share food now.
In the pandemic, the yellow chairs have offered some salvation, a place to sit and talk with a passing neighbor or a visiting friend. We are social creatures. We feel best physically and mentally when we have the balance of time alone and time with others that feels right for each of us. In the past nine months, the balance has tipped toward more alone time than usual, and more isolation than is comfortable for many.
So, my thanks to the yellow chairs! They provide a respite from worry, a spot where I can safely and distantly meet the world. These days a chat with a friend is a coffee break for the soul.
Copyright © 2020 Susan Kottler
Susan Kottler is a mostly self-taught photographer who strives to create photos which tell small stories about the human condition. After years as a mental health clinician and a parent, she has gravitated to street photography because of her interest in how people live, what they build, and how they relate to the environment around them. She has exhibited her work widely in the Boston area.
Love this!! You will probably be using the yellow chairs next outside in April as we usher in springtime. They will serve you well as you count the days until you can sit closely to friends without masks!
Thanks for your comment. The yellow chairs are in the garage for now. They’ll be back outside in the spring, ready for whatever awaits them. Let’s hope for the best!
–SK
my friend Susan has always shown a keen eye for THE detail in everyday life which makes people feel particular, worthy… the yellow chair illustrates this love for mankind
I am so proud of her, Viviane from France
Merci, Viviane!