Clare Davis Etheridge

Do you look for the silver linings, or do they find you, or do you just stumble over them in the rain? I found some lovely silver linings yesterday in the rain and clouds.
I walked to catch the train amid a slight drizzle and wondered at the fact that I was supposed to be in a raging thunderstorm as predicted by the ever optimistic weather app on my phone, I was not even in need of my umbrella’s help in this rain.
As I sat on the train making sure no eye contact was made, I wondered why I didn’t bring a book or at least headphones to listen to a podcast. I find myself in this situation a lot and I still can’t get my brain to remember to bring ‘entertainment’ for my child sized attention span, I need something to do, I am not a sitter and relaxer, I am a listener or a reader or a note writer.  Unfortunately my head is not in agreement and refuses to remind me to bring stuff to do when I might be in a boring situation like sitting on the train or waiting for said train.
When I arrived at my stop, I was early for meeting my friend, so I stopped into a nearby coffee shop for a latte and scone. As I waited for my drink I noticed that they make brown sugar rosemary lattes and wished I had ordered one of those. Hey ho, next time. My plain coffee was very nice though and along with the gingerbread walnut scone (need to figure out this recipe) I wandered across Forest Park towards the Saint Louis Art Museum.
It was raining more by now and the umbrella had to be deployed which took a moment of juggling as I felt the urge to take a photo of the yellow gingko trees lining the path I was about to walk. I snapped my shot and off I went, scone nibbling and coffee sipping.
I amazed at how bright things like the yellow trees in Autumn seem so much brighter on a dull and rainy day, the trees and the leaves which had fallen from them seemed to glow gently through the rain.  The rain seems to give nature a shiny sheen and a lovely light, beacons in the gloom.
Once at the Art Museum I heard from my friend, who is really still a ‘pretend friend’, that is to say I haven’t actually met her yet in real life. I met her on Instagram and we decided that neither one of us is an axe murderer and we should meet. So we tried. Today. At the Art Museum. We failed. She had to get her kids from school and so that was that, she couldn’t make it. I felt like the naughty kid at the library talking on my phone in the museum too!
Well, I had made it through the rain and wind, my legs were wet, so I decided to stay a while and have a wander around the museum and maybe my legs would dry before my return journey.  I know the Art Museum pretty well and was delighted to find a new exhibit in the newer section of the building which houses my favourite galleries and paintings.

‘Scouts or Sports?’ by the artist brothers Steven and William Ladd made for a room of inspiration or at least it was to me, I loved almost every piece and wanted to illegally reach over the wire and have a prod to see exactly how they had created some of the art! Don’t worry, I didn’t.

This is art to smile at and art which makes you want to make art, to draw and make marks and paint and use colours, lots of colours. My colorful silver lining.
I also made sure I saw my most favourite painting in the museum which is ‘Betty’ by Gerhard Richter.

Then, I pulled my plastic bag covered umbrella out of my handbag and I was on my way, having had a lovely morning in the company of the Saint Louis Art Museum and the rain.

Not a bad turn out in my opinion, I am sure I will meet my friend another day, maybe under clear skies with a spot of sunshine this time!

I hope you have lots of silver linings in your days, whether they find you or you find them.