Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light
Friday, 5 December 2008

You know, some things test my patience. Some things test the boundaries of what I can endure. Today… The ATT truck drove by my house. Now, ATT is a chariot to rival even Sears… Because ATT trucks deliver internet. That’s a commodity more vital even than running water, in my opinion. So the truck drove by, and later it drove by again. And again. And again. I resolved that if I saw it coming one more time I was going to hurl myself into the street. Fortunately I didn’t. Didn’t see it, that is. Sometimes a person is driven to desperation. To someone like me, no internet is like no oxygen. You might not think about it, but boy, you know when it’s gone. Honestly, people, even if I had internet right now, I wouldn’t be using it. I have a house to renovate! But knowing I can’t… Ah, that’s the hard part. I miss my friends… As the Flair says, “I love my computer. My friends live in it!” :)

Today’s great accomplishment was the kitchen light installation. After many hurdles, it finally shines as a light unto all the world… so to speak…

I guess I should give you a run-down on the neighbors… at least the ones we’ve met so far. Across the street and to the right is a guy named Mark. He’s a police officer. We met him a few weeks ago and have talked to him several times since we moved in. On our side of the street and to the left is Ray. He’s a surveyor. He trimmed his humongous shrub that was partly growing over our gate – and we didn’t even have to ask. I think that bodes well for the relationship. He’s also obsessed with Christmas lights. At present he has a psychedelic display of blinking snowflakes, a train, and a seven-foot-tall candy cane. I’m practically speechless about that… But then, I am the girl who hasn’t put up a Christmas tree in approximately five years. But listen, Brandy, honestly, I’m putting up a tree THIS year… and I may even send Christmas cards. (Though they won’t be hand-made… or even hand-addressed…) I’m experiencing an excess of holiday cheer!

The guy to the left and two houses down is named Gene. I didn’t meet him, but James did. He has at least two kids. I’m becoming concerned because I’ve yet to meet a woman in this neighborhood. I saw two girls walking along, but true to our generation they didn’t stop to engage me in conversation. Since they were power-walking I didn’t imagine I could keep up long enough to engage them in conversation. I guess I take that back about not meeting any women. One lady named Dawn stopped by to welcome us. She lives on Monroe Street. A random “welcome to the community” was much appreciated! Mark, the guy across the street, has a lucky green Buddha statue in his yard. I think that probably means that the neighborhood is full of positive energy… I’m hopeful we’ll make lots of friends here and shine a light to rival even our awesome new kitchen light.