Sunday, March 27, 2011

coming and going

peeling paint

Growing up I remember going in and out of the house, banging the screen door countless times a day.  "Mom!  Can I have a snack!"  "Mom, can I go over to so-and-so's house?" "Mom, I just fell off my bike again, do we have any bandaids?"  My best friend lived on the other side of the block and we could yell to each other from our bedroom windows.  I'm not sure what the neighbours thought of our hollered conversations across their backyards, or why we didn't just use the telephone, but it worked for us.  We take the openings in our homes for granted, but on a daily basis they usher us out into the world and then welcome us back in.

There's a sadness to the decay of this door I found in a small abandoned building on a hike recently.  Someone carefully laid coats of paint on it, the door knob was polished by many hands going in and out, but now it sits quiet.  Nettebar's window gives me the same feeling of melancholy.  At some point in its history, all the panes were lovingly buffed and someone dreamed while looking out at the street or their garden.

But I like thinking of those openings as opportunities, whether they are in daily use or just markers of the past.  Every day we put on our shoes and step out the door to welcome what comes next.

cheers,
mosey of mosey along

window
window by Nettebar

12 comments:

thatgirlblogs said...

at first I thought that was the door from your childhood home, and I was thinking -- wow. that's a lot of coming and going :)

Kirstin said...

Oh these pictures are melancholic, aren't they? Such mood.

Lianne said...

Your commentary made me laugh in recognition...our doors and windows were definitely well used.

Love both photos...if feels like you have infused them with personalities because of your musings.

Ashley Sisk said...

The way you tell the story- I started remembering my childhood much the same way. Lovely pairing.

urban muser said...

i love the way you put this together. doors and windows can hold so many memories. beautifully done.

Unknown said...

These pictures are just beautiful. I love the memories you wrote of. Very sweet.

gina said...

Very touching post....the images and words go together perfectly.

Tammy Lee Bradley said...

Great post. Oh, the stories that door could tell.

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

Oh, that chippy old door would have to find it's way home with me.

Maureen said...

what gorgeous texture in both photos. great pairing.

blue elephant photography said...

i love your story. and i love that the door and window seems like it has it's own story to tell

Anna said...

The history and stories in these old pieces. Great images and I love how you wove your childhood memories into it all!

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