How Many Shades Of Gray

So, the flood’s all dry, the floor is uncarpeted and gray, the walls are holey and gray, the cieling’s gray (don’t ask–the previous owners painted it that way!), the sky’s most definitely gray (and most probably raining), and my mood… well, my mood is distinctly gray too. Meanwhile we look at paint colors, floor coverings (not not not not carpet, never again!), light fittings and more. Dreaming, wishing perhaps? Meanwhile time goes on.

I can scarcely believe it’s almost two months since our basement flooded. Two months since the panic of stepping into water while something (yet unknown) banged and roared and electrical outlets sparked (I know, what kind of idiot steps into water without checking, but I was running downstairs to investigate the noise and I didn’t see the reflections). Two months since incredible sons carried tons of wet carpet outdoors. Two months since incredible friends took charge and pushed us into action. Two months since incredible neighbors waded in to help. Two months since…

And since then I’ve studied many many shades of gray. A good friend who knows about color suggested we try not repainting in the dreaded worn-out white. “How about white with a touch of blue?” we asked. But it’s a big room. Anything too bright and white is going to glare at us. She suggests we try gray colors–gray with a touch of blue perhaps–and to explain she took me shopping where she found a sample card for me covered in many shades of gray. It’s slightly disturbing how many of the shades sport names like “summer rain” or “winter showers.” Torrents and flooded basements come to mind…

So, the flood’s all dry, the floor is uncarpeted and gray, the walls are holey and gray, the cieling’s gray, and we’re looking for better, brighter, more colorful grays to cheer up our lives.

My world is filled with shades of gray.

And my writing prompt for our writing group is very simple: Water water everywhere!

Let’s write

1. What’s your favorite color?
2. What might make water appear that color?
3. Write a story where the color of water changes.
4. Try to include the color of somebody’s mood.