Day Four: That Old House

I apologize that this blog is one day late due to technical difficulties. Anyways...

Today (as in yesterday) I found myself following my daily routine. Wake up around eight, go for a run, fry up some eggs, drive past that old house that I have been driving past for about thirteen years to head down the hill and go to John's. I don't know what caused me to stop at that house that could literally be pushed down with my pinky. The house is so dilapidated and rotted. The old woman who lives there was walking to her mailbox at the end of her driveway to get the newspaper. I drove by the house at about ten am on my way to "get away" in hopes of finding inspiration or a good story to capture on camera. I'm glad that in doing so I didn't miss the story of Dot.

Driving past the house and watching it grow smaller behind me I knew I would be late to John's yet again. Something in my gut told me I should go back and introduce myself to the stranger who has been my neighbor for thirteen some odd years. It's funny how easy it's to go on with the days, months and years without stopping to hear the stories of the ones you drive by every day. Turning around awkwardly in the skinny road, the old woman turned her head around to see this stranger in a pickup truck pull up beside the mailbox. I introduced myself and told her I'm the boy who lives in the shingled house with the stone wall out front. The older woman, wearing a heavy trench coat with the fur of an animal wrapped around her neck on the warmest day of the year, introduced herself as Dot. Dot has been living in this deteriorating red farm house since birth. She was born in the living room and has been watching the world go by through those warped kitchen windows for eighty-three years.

These days I have been bringing my camera with me wherever I go. Looking back at my truck with my camera resting in the front seat I asked if I could take her picture. I said she didn't have to smile or anything. "Good," she said. "I don't have any teeth left to smile." With those words she gave the cutest grin revealing the one remaining tooth in the right corner of her mouth. It was perfect.

On any given day I would have driven past that old house without giving it but a moment's worth of my time. Today I took a moment to stop. In doing so I took a risk, learned a story, made a connection, a friend, a moment and a memory. The next time I drive by the farmhouse I will continue to think of that beautiful woman with that ever-shining tooth. There are so many little possibilities and opportunities that are presented in a day. I'm glad I got to experience this one. Dot gives a hell of a smile.

-jax