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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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THE HOUSE DOWN THE STREET
The house down the street has been empty for a while. I pass by it at least twice a day, but only recently found myself staring at it. Normally I don't pay a lot of attention to buildings in the neighborhood. I've usually got my mind on my destination or the weather or some other distraction. This house, however, has suddenly grabbed my attention; and I am compelled to look at it every single time I walk by. The new tenant has done much work inside and out. Various people came and went as piles of wood and sheet rock accumulated on the lawn and later disappeared. The drapes and blinds went away, as did the old shrubs. I also watched painters spraying on new coats of paint and window installers caulking shiny new windows. At first I thought it was just my curiosity. Then I realized that it was more than that. There was something attracting my attention in a way it never had before. I felt compelled to look at that house the same way you get mesmerized by a single person in a ballroom full of people. Eventually I've realized that the whole personality of the house and the way it presents itself to the world has changed. The dark coat of paint has been replaced by a lighter and brighter exterior. The new windows, with no curtains or blinds, allow me to see inside and even out the back windows to the view that was previously hidden. It is as if the house has come out of hiding and said, "Here I am. Look at me." Eventually the remodeling will be completed and the new tenant will move in. The windows will be covered. New landscaping will be planted. I'll become accustomed to the changes and stop even looking as I go by. In the meantime, I'm going to smile every time I catch myself staring and say to myself, "Looking good, babe!"
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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