2.20.2011

houses I love you

View Vista Dr. & H Street, Livingston
Earlier this week I got in two runs wearing shorts.  I have never run in shorts in February before so thanks global warming!  Today was the exact opposite: freezing cold snowstorm - back to the dead of winter.  But it actually turned out to be pretty fun in an Ernest Shakleton, suffering for arbitrary greatness kind of way.  Tolerating freezing appendages, crusted-over eyelashes, and a burning windpipe for 7.5 miles can turn into a fun game once you start pretending you're a famous explorer on an adventure.  Like old Ernie said, "optimism is true moral courage!"

Today's mission took me through the four neighborhoors of Livingston proper: oldest (turn of the century) which is where we live, sort-of-old (mid-century), my personal deja-vu era (1970s-80s) which reminds me of the neighborhood I grew up in, and new (new)...(pre-recession).  Looking at houses while walking or running is one of my absolute favorite things to do and can remember doing it even as a small person.  This is cheesy but the reason I love looking at houses is because I like trying to figure out what each houses's story is: the people that live or lived there, the historical era it was built in, the decisions made over its lifetime, all the personal experiences that its walls contain.  Its like being at a bookstore and having all those untold stories at your fingertips.  Within a few parameters, my imagination is free to build that story and I find this endlessly captivating.

Now it is time for me to use my imagination for my school project.  Tomorrow is a holiday but my instructor is making us come into school anyways, which of course is awesome.  Spring break, hurry up!

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