Connection Through Wallpaper

We all have expert “guests” who show up by appointment to our homes to fix or enhance things. I mean, plumbers are nothing short of superheroes when you awaken to a flood in your basement. Electricians illuminate and handy people make things whole again. Recently, I decided I wanted wallpaper hung in my downstairs bathroom, and came to realize how great wallpaper hangers are as well.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a bit resistant to wallpaper for a while. Ever since we removed the pink fleur-de-lis wallpaper from our dining room and the watermelon scheme from our kitchen over 30 years ago, I’ve been dubious about wallpaper. However, all these years later when I sought advice from my daughter-in-law regarding paint color in the bathroom, she suggested wallpaper. And just like that, at 8:30 on a recent Monday morning, Roger the wallpaper guy showed up, and my day was transformed in more ways than one.

First off, I knew my bathroom walls were in good hands when, within seconds, Roger noted the imperfections of the walls, mumbled some quick math, and then with a cavalier shrug of his shoulders, said, “This is no problem.” 

Roger’s demeanor was chatty, but not in a self-serving way. As he set up his “workspace” in my  hallway, he noted the weather and the road conditions on his drive from his home in Xenia. He asked how long we’ve lived in our house. It didn’t take long for me to bring my refilled coffee cup to the hallway as Roger prepped the bathroom walls. Then asked me about my kids, and I told him about how my youngest was due to celebrate her 31st birthday. I asked him about his kids. He told me about his son who lives in Yellow Springs and how they love to go to the Yellow Springs Brewery, and then told me he doesn’t really care for his son-in-law. I almost choked on my coffee. He asked me if I listened to our local WYSO radio station. Classical music, he said, was his favorite as he tuned his portable radio to piano instrumental melodies that filled our house with a quiet calm that transformed the Monday morning doldrums.

Roger’s company was delightful. We talked about favorite restaurants and our mutual dislike of cats. He talked about his wife and how she’s a professional seamstress. I showed him my husband’s favorite cook book. I heard about some pretty remarkable stories over his 40-year tenure as a wallpaper expert hanger; like the time when the contractor in a major home renovation removed every toilet in the house after the homeowner refused to pay his bill.

I mentioned I write for the Dayton Daily News. He asked what I write about, and I told him whatever inspires me. Throughout the day, Roger would walk through the kitchen and outside to his truck. As he passed by he’d ask, “Are you inspired yet?” It didn’t take long for inspiration to rise, one wallpaper strip at a time.

You just never know when a scheduled appointment of necessity yields delightful connection. We all traverse our days within our bubbles; people move in and out, even through our homes. I was reminded in my day spent with Roger that we all have many stories to share. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him. And I have to say, I absolutely love the wallpaper. I find myself smiling as I walk by the new wallpapered powder room.  At least for now, the new look is a reminder of how nice it can be to share in good conversation with a stranger, and take my daughter-in-law’s decorating advice.