The Center of the World

Andrea suggested that I write about my new home. I'm just going to wing this and see what happens.

I live in a little country town. Don't think Mayberry, it's not like that. Think more of "Don't blink or you'll miss it" on the way to Mayberry. At the entrance to the town is the old elementary school building. A mammoth block style brick building with a half moon drive in the front and ancient trees at the entrance and exit to the half moon drive. It's really kind of beautiful. Unfortunetly the school is no longer operational. I guess it was turned into a restaurant/meeting hall for a while. Currently it's up for sale again. I've racked my brain trying to think of a genius way to restore it's former beauty and make a profit, but I hardly think anything could survive in this tiny little town between the cornfields.

There's a grain/fertilizer plant that the farmers visit often. The lane runs right beside our house. Constant farming equipment, like Tera Gators and such in and out of the lane to the plant. Luckily there is hardly any activity to and fro on the weekends.

The town surrounds both sides of the train track. Our place is off to the West side of the track. I don't even notice the trains unless I'm on the telephone and have to pause the conversation until the train passes. I don't hear them in the middle of the night anymore. I don't hear the dinging bell telling me a train is approaching. It's just like an aquired taste now.

There is also a tiny little post-office across the tracks, I haven't ventured in yet. Although I'd like to see if the post office boxes are detailed and antiqued like the old post offices boxes. It looks claustrophobic to me, I'm afraid there won't be enough room for me and the post master at the same time.

Other than that, there's a handful of houses. And each house has at least one dog. I know this because when one dog starts barking they all start barking. We live in this mammoth 2 story rectagular house just off the track. This house used to be the train depot and was moved off the track a bit and set in it's own parcel of land with a few mammoth ancient trees and sidewalk gracing the front. I think the external structure is actually brick, but it's been covered in asphalt shingle type siding and then eventually a kahki vinyl siding. The roof is slate. I'm a big fan of slate shingles. It adds an element of antiquity and of course slate lasts forever. The interior structure has been remodeled several times and looks like it's up for more remodeling soon. There are still a few arched entryways and the rooms are monsterous.

The view from the upstairs windows is pretty great. Our East facing bedroom window looks just into and slightly over the mammoth tree canopy out front. Our West window over looks the fenced in back yard. I have two favorite spots of this house. I love our newly remodeled bedroom. It's huge yet cozy. I love sitting on the big bed and watching Ulitmate Fighting. The lighting is just right too. Not too bright, not too dark. Just really warm and really comforting. I could spend an entire lifetime wrapped up in that big bed.

My other favorite spot is the front porch that's shaded by the mammoth tree canopy. The birds love that tree. There's an older metal porch glider. Like one that you would find on your grandmothers porch back in the 60's. I love nostalgic things like that. On the other end of the porch is a table w/ chairs. It's the perfect place for breakfast, coffee and the newspaper on the weekends.

SLJ's parents live in the same little town. Their backyard and our backyard connect. It's a pretty spacious lot that we use to clink a few golf balls or baseballs. I adore his family. We may be neighbors but we still have our space. We can share things like sugar and eggs or hedge trimmers and ladders. It's mostly us doing the borrowing from them, but in return they have their only son to help with winterizing the boat or installing new rain gutters. It works out nicely.

SLJ's mom is the neighborhood cat lady. It's more of an arrangement. The neighborhood cats find food and shelter in her shed. (Andrea, please skip over this next part) Although ever since SLJ was attacked by one of neighborhood kitties, he kind of, shall we say "trains them" to stay out of his yard and garage. As far as the attack goes, think of that nice little webby, flap of flesh between your thumb and forefinger and then think of sharp little teeth stuck deep, deep into it, not letting go, while clawing and ripping the rest of your body like a mad cat on crack. Yah. Ever since then, the cats are "trained" to stay out of SLJ's territory or they might find themselves covered in colorful cod oil. I have to admit...when I see a cat stealthfully try to sneak in the garage, I kindly warn it, "Oh little kitty, you know better than that, you better leave" and then call out to my 6'2" Elmer Fudd who will instantly drop everything to play like cops and robbers with the little kitties. It's kind of my own little entertainment to see a 6'2" man slide around the corner and then miss his target while the porch gets covered in colorful cod oil. Yah. I enjoy it. I'm sick like that. But hey, it's better than cow tipping right? Besides, we're more "dog people." Although one of our dogs thinks it's a goat. It stands on top of my patio table like it's a goat, but hey! to each their own.

I turned the corner on my way home from work the other night to find SLJ standing in the drive. Instant smiles came to face. I am very blessed. I fit perfectly here in this tiny little town surrounding the track, in this mammoth former train station house, with my 6'2" Elmer Fudd, our antique porch glider and our goat.