As I was driving home from the hardware store earlier this week, I was struck by how beautiful it is in my neighborhood and those nearby. I’m renting a house that is less than a mile from the home we lived in from just before I turned 9 until my 18th birthday. But I don’t remember noticing how beautiful it was back then. These are the same neighborhoods and without any drastic changes: The trees are old and may have been a bit shorter #*% years ago, but they’re the same trees. The houses haven’t changed much–here and there I notice a house which has had some major renovations done, but for the most part it seems like even the colors they are painted could be the same. The streets aren’t any wider or any more narrow; yards aren’t any more or less landscaped; and the weather is following pretty typical patterns.
I’m assuming that there are two main reasons that my memories don’t quite measure up.
- I’ve changed, and I mean I’ve changed significantly over the years–I’ve changed in those ways that time (age), responsibilities, hardships, joys, and everything else life has to offer change a person, but I’ve also had many years to learn about depression and to “recover” or heal from the damage it did to me and to learn how to manage it. I know that I literally see the world differently than I used to.
- We take things in our ordinary, daily lives for granted.
Making this move back to Washington state has required enough risk and enough “leap of faith” from me that I’m not taking things for granted. At least, not yet. Being unemployed, of course, also means that I have plenty of time for contemplating the world around me or just focusing on the many strands of dog hair on the couch.
So, here’s my writing warm-up idea for the week:
Without going to take a fresh look, describe your neighborhood. Be as detailed as you can. Most likely the things that irritate you a bit will be the easiest to recall in addition to the major features. See if you can stretch your recall abilities–which neighbors have flowers or trees or landscaping that appeals to you? Who has gravel and who uses bark? What are the little details that make people’s homes unique and perhaps reflect the personalities of the individuals who live there.
I’ll let you know how mine turns out!
Write, write away! *J*
Filed under: From the Bard--Ms. Julie Hasted, Wednesday Writing Warm-ups
