Lady in Red

8 years ago I was living in Waterbury and my husband, 1 year old son and I visited the H and R Block office in this historic house on S Main St. While we were sitting in the waiting room in those gray chairs, my son was playing with the toys in the basket next to the fireplace. As we waited, I became aware of a woman in a red Victorian-style dress walking back and forth from the fireplace to the staircase. Since I was sitting and she was standing, I was looking at the side of her full skirt just below her waist. The material and color was the most vivid impression, I don’t even remember seeing her face. She’s telling me now as I sketch that I did not do her dress justice, and she’s right. It was a deep maroon in a damask pattern but I did the best I could with the skills and colors I had 😅 At that time in my life I wasn’t being fully honest with myself about my abilities and it was just sort of something I was sensing while I waited to do the mundane task of tax preparation and watched my baby. I was driving by recently and took the opportunity to take some pictures. While sketching I was able to connect to her and get the sense that she was waiting for someone; pacing back and forth in her best dress, ready to go somewhere, and watching out the front windows and door for their arrival. I’m not sure that they ever came...I get the feeling she’s watching for them still.

The house where the office is located. I researched its history but was unable to find its original inhabitants.

The waiting room where I sat and my son played

The staircase the spirit paced to

The Lady