Empty Home
There is a vacant home on the corner of my street, where Dove meets Eagle. Not too long ago there was a family living there, with a couple of kids. They were older than Lucas and went to the neighborhood school, so we didn't really get to know them. He isn't really old enough to wander off unattended to play with neighbor kids. I watched from afar as the neighbors took down a little fence and opened up their side yard to view from the street. The home doesn't have a typical front yard because of the corner. I watched as they planted six young redwood trees in the requisite triples. I watched them create a river-rock planter in the front of the house near the gravel driveway. They planted it with freesias, a hydrangea, some Spanish lavender. They hung a decorative sun wall sculpture above the front door and set out a patio table and chairs, with a bright red umbrella to keep off the sun. I was surprise the morning I drove past and saw all those signs of family life-table, art, toys, badminton net, cars-gone. Nobody ever came back and now the lawn is dying. The lovely flowers will die soon, too, probably. It makes me sad to see the home empty. It's cute and I've peeked in the windows. I would like to fill it up with one or more of my friends. There is no sign out front: It is neither for sale nor for rent. This makes me wonder. This morning I drove past and was surprised again. The across-the-street neighbor (with the perfect dog who never leaves his yard) was out mowing the yellowing lawn, keeping the place up a bit. Perhaps he is motivated out of love of the neighborhood. Perhaps he just doesn't want to look at the place as it dries and weeds take over. This makes me wonder, too.