Vintage mid-century modern fiberglass pendant lamp I got as a gift from the original owners. Dr. P. was 94, blind, and permanently jolly, despite his beloved Imogene wasting away in her bed from Alzheimerâs. âHi, Megan! Shall we go for a walk!â Dr. P couldnât see me but he thought I was just wonderful and he waited for my weekly visits. I walked him down Chapparal Lane amidst multimillion dollar homes for elderly white people who played golf along the ocean. Dr. P, who was white, would tell of his life in 1930s Korea before his family was forced to leave. He told of Imogenâs ancestral connection to George Washington. Then he told of the âLittle pickaninniesâ in 1940s North Carolina who were causing mischief for the white folks in his proud southern neighborhood. Oh, right, Dr. P canât see my nappy-ass hair and that Iâm not quite white. If Dr. P hadnât been blind, would he have liked me so much? Or Would my pickaniny ancestry have reduced me to âthe helpâ in his eyes? Who cares. Heâs blind, old, and happy, and Iâm learning something. Dr. P doesnât need the light but Iâll use it.
