The Fence

     Usually when I hit a snag in my writing I’d stare outside my office window to get a brief moment of inspiration.  At times I could see someone walking down the sidewalk: maybe with a small child in a stroller.  I would always wonder what the baby may be doing lying there in that stroller, what kind of thoughts may be going through his head?

     But a few years ago that all changed.  I moved to a new location and now I operate out of my home office.  It has a small window in the room where I work and when I look outside I see the fence that separates our place from the neighbors.  That property has been vacant for years.  I don’t know the owners: If they just don’t’ want anyone living there or what?

     From time to time I have imagined that within that yard there could be a really nice pool and entertainment area: maybe a spot where you could invite friends and family over and have a really nice time.  At times, when I am trying to write, I think I hear the sounds of laughter coming from across the fence!  Maybe when I wasn’t paying attention someone had that area transformed into that “special” gathering place.  You can almost hear the splashing of the water and smell the burgers and dogs cooking on the grill.

     Now I’m not going crazy, but with a little imagination you can almost want to invite yourself over and join in the festivities.  But I know it’s not real.  I only have to take a look out the window and I know that nothing has changed.  It’s still the dull, brown fence separating me from a neglected backyard.

     Then there are times when I could imagine that empty backyard as a great place for having a set-up for the kids to play.  Maybe there could be a family who would move in and make the place an ultimate playground.  There would be swings and slides and other types of equipment that the young ones would enjoy.  Perhaps kids from around the neighborhood would be invited to come over and they would all play together.  It might be that I could take a break from my writing and go over to show the kids how we used to play in “the olden days.”  Sometimes if you ride a bike, or swing in a swing, or do so many numerous other things, kids look at you like they are amazed that you would know how to do such a thing!  It’s hard for them to imagine that you were once young before the years caught up with you.

     But I get back to my writing and let the backyard imagination calm down for a little bit.  Although I do recall that my wife told me that a cat and her liter of kittens had made that backyard area for their home.  Maybe I’ll need to complete my assignment for today and take a little visit next door and see what’s going on.  Besides, it might not hurt to see if I can calculate what size pool a new owner might be able to fit into that area: just in case!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Employers be fair to your employees:

Tomorrow they may be YOUR boss!"