There’s a sign I’ve been meaning to read that is posted on my apartment complex that’s meant to be read as we pull into the parking lot. For people with normal vision. So, on a whim, I went and read the sign. It told me of another section of this apartment building and where to park if you want to visit those apartments. Apartments 41-60. I’ve seen a row or two of apartments down below (we live on a hill) that look like ours from our window. And I remembered a staircase I’ve been meaning to poke my head in, so I followed it. The stairs are crumbling and not in very good repair, so I’m assuming no one but the maintenance guy, Raoul, and I use it or someone would have complained. It felt like the Secret Garden all over again. And sure enough, I found a waterfall-rivery thing surrounded by trees that I wouldn’t have found hadn’t Raoul walked down the stairs after me and pointed them out. “There’s lots of fish in there,” he said. And indeed there are. It’s fenced in because I’m sure someone fell in once upon a time and hurt themselves, and it’s all covered in leaves and branches because it’s winter, but it’s in the same state the willow tree and pool are in directly outside my apartment, so I’m sure Raoul will do yardwork when he’s sure winter is gone for good. It was quiet, except for a lady manuevering a stroller who greeted me and for the shouts of the kids who go to school and play at the Baptist church next to our apartment complex. We can hear the echoes of their playing from our apartment in the summer, but I could never figure out where it came from other than the general direction of the church. I discovered that this hidden-away portion of the complex is right next to a playground that had, when I poked my head around, lots of kids playing in it. It’s separated only by a chain-link fence, so I stood there at the railing in front of someone’s apartment and watched them play. I could hear the echoes of a dog barking somewhere there and people talking and conversing in front of the church, but I couldn’t see it because a building was in the way, and I was really only there for the kids. I only left when two girls swinging on swings nearest me noticed me watching them.

It really does feel like the Secret Garden; I’m bringing Just’In back on one of our lazy, warm days to watch the kids. Can you just imagine the two of us, standing there, dreaming?

About The Original Kate

Along with artistic tendencies, Kate enjoys unusual people and is constantly striving for some sort of nonconformity. Kate offers a perspective that is thoughtful but well-written and full of images within the words. Other tidbits that might intrigue: she has very long auburn hair, and, you guessed it, her favorite color is orange.

Posted on March 2, 2006, in From Rabid-Mormon Land Known As Utah. Bookmark the permalink. 36 Comments.

  1. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  2. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  3. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  4. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  5. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  6. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  7. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  8. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  9. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  10. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.

    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.

    *sigh*

    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?

    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  11. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.
    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.
    *sigh*
    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?
    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

  12. Oh that sounds just lovely! I’m in TX with Hunter at the moment, which is awesome, but assuredly not as pretty as what you have described. Ft. Worth definitely reminds me in some ways of parts of ABQ (like the North Valley). Not terribly nice to look at, but comfortable and sort of familiar, even though I’ve never been here before.
    Oh Kate, I’m getting the tiniest glimpse this week of what it must be like to share your home and your life with Just’In, and I must admit that I am terribly jealous in some ways. There’s something so reassuring about being able to spend your whole day doing whatever it is that needs to be done, and then being able to end it each night wrapped up in the arms of the one you love. I just feel so very content to be here, and it has nothing really to do with this place, just with the fact that I am sharing it with him. I spent a long time listing off all of the wonderful things I would have living on my own and not having to answer to anybody, but I think I’m finally realizing how good it would be just to have someone around who could do things to inconvenience me and to make me grumble good-heartedly, rather than always coming home to some place that is just how I want it, but empty.
    *sigh*
    Sorry, feeling particularly sappy at the moment. I’ve been here for a day and a half and I am already languishing in stolen t-shirts and pre-bedtime conversations. The kind of things that they always forget to put into the movies, you know?
    Enough rambling out of me, that’s what my own journal is for, yes? Much love, my darling.

    • I’m glad you’re feeling sappy and so much in love. It really does feel very good. And yes, there’s lots of things that aren’t portrayed in movies that I love.

    • I’m singing along to “I Hope You Dance” on Launchcast now. Thank you for the confidence you have in me. I love you. I’m glad you have some down time for yourself. I’m thankful for your friendship in my life. I hope it richens even more over the years.

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