My Life's Partner, My Friend, My Equal

I met a couple today that had been married some fifty-two years who have shared a project that kept them both busy with displaying an egg decorated lawn these past fifty years. Called Eggshellland, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/eggshellland/ for a photo montage, this couple has put their entire free time in emptying, painting, planning designs and building eggshell displays that are up for only an eight day period between Palm Sunday and two days after Easter. Their designs are based on common and popular themes such as Disney and Warner Brothers characters, local sport teams and a perennial, brightly decorated cross.

They are a true husband and wife team, with the wife doing the entire theme designing and planning and her husband, the painting and production. The eggs are painted in 24 brilliant outdoor sign paints called 1Shot, made in Gary, IN. Their children, grandchildren and other interested people have helped with the set up and execution of the design layout. Only four times has the weather threatened their fragile project with hailstones or crushing heavy snow, damaging thousands of brightly painted shells. Vandals have too have had their effect, but only once, a decade ago.

I guess, the real reason for this blog is to tell you about a couple who have decided to put their lives in a fish bowl one a year, for eight days; to let people see, experience and admire their creative talents. They have enjoyed showing their displays just as much as the visitors who have goggled in front of their home during Holy Week. They were not afraid to put themselves out and in some cases, have let others in on their creative venture.

Betty and Ron Manolio, I wish you many more years together in your creative journey as show us your combined talents. You are a couple this world should admire as well as emulate.

K.