Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Rickety Tickety Tock

It's an old door. Crooked from birth. And the hinges wail....whine....shriek, if taken by surprise. The inside frame is notched from an endless parade of hook-n-eyes screwed in at every level, in a futile attempt to keep her tethered, and later lost to wayward windstorms, escaping dogs, and hissy fits.

She's a great door. Her melodic night time creaking, whispers to me when there's company. Her rusty morning yawn, the tell-tell sign it's time for coffee with the neighbors. Her "enough is enough" random slamming....my wooden meterologist.

The handle is way up high. Hippie Mom's answer to the baby gate way back then....I look at it now and wonder what I was thinking.....Boogie men and seven year olds could never enter without bellowing at the gate first?

She's old. And tired. And sitting in the Sunday grass with the neighbors, I wondered at her longevity. How long can a screen door last? Blowing in the wind, knocking about in storms, opened and closed a thousand times, covered in a lifetime of fingerprints.....arms wide open.....

Tonight when I came traipsing in through the dark and yanked, she didn't budge. I panicked. Yanked again. A little harder. Ka-bump! She gave way. I scooched onto the porch and she slammed. Yeah, just like her. But something felt funny. The way she resisted. Scrunched her toes into the sandy floor and wouldn't budge. I turned around and pushed her. Nothing. Pushed a little harder. Nothing. Shoved her! KA-BUMP!, I went flying back out into the blackened driveway
head first into my neighbor's smile.....

"We put magnet's on her!"

19 comments:

justacoolcat said...

Ha!

She still has her looks and character.

Unknown said...

It's true! Doors are meteorologists! My dad's door sticking is the sure-fire sign of an impending summer thunder storm!

Maithri said...

Singleton,

An open door,
The avatar of courage,
The ensign of love,

You walk, you speak, you live
with Grace.

She has made you her voice.

Love and soft light,
Maithri

Lola Starr said...

Nice door. And nice way of looking at one, never thought of that before! Magnets....funny. ;) Happy Thanksgiving!

eric1313 said...

Sounds like you need to have the edges of the door plained just a bit. Or, have the hinges sunk in a little deeper. That too will free up space for it to open and close without hassle.

Hopefully this isn't an omen. A door no longer opening is always a bad sign, like a key that doesn't want to fit anymore.

I hope it isn't a voodoo curse! That would suck!

SHE said...

excellent, enchanting story with such a great close..

or, make that.. open.

happy thanksgiving! i'm grateful to read you ")

love, ~s.

Ultra Toast Mosha God said...

Modified like Frankenstein's monster.

singleton said...

suchacoolcat....Her character is charming, I can assure you! She knows who to bang about over, who to sweep through the screen...and I swear sometimes, she could automatically open (with a little help from Ma Nature) if she spyed me both arms full coming up the drive!

Electric....Yup! and that ain't no wives tale!

Maithri....you somehow know what importance I place on this door....this gate into our world...her welcome, that of a friendly dog....her protective nature, that of a wrought iron gate....her smile, our own.....

Peace~love my friends

eric1313 said...

Clink!

eric1313 said...

I know you're there typing to me as we speak!

singleton said...

Doorbell, screenbell, interuppted this flow.....BB in just a few! Clink!

i beati said...

splendid tribute yesterday I saw a little shelf my son made 24 years ago and I was sad that it was departing...

singleton said...

Karma.....It's like they glued my door shut! I know her constant flapping in the breeze was addin' to her years, but I sorta miss the melancholy sound.......:)


Eric....:) Oh, she opened and closed with absolutely no hassle! Flying free as a a bird flapping in the wind, but tied to the frame of the house! I was worrried she would wear out in dog years, and they were probably glad to have the opportunity to "save" her! They glued her shut with magnets! :) No voodoo here....just who-doo!

she....And I'm greatful for you....and you're courage....to barge through doors and open them....love, my friend!

Ultra....Exactly! Clink!

Eric....Clink! realtime late!

Ibeati....Where's the little shelf going? Love, girl.......it grows!

Peace~love my friends, and thanksgivings......may the circle be unbroken.....

drips of paint said...

she is complaining alright ... extra TLC she expect ... still inpsiring such lovely post in her old age ... bravo

Happy thanksgiving ...

eric1313 said...

Off to Detroit for some dancing and some turkey with cornbread stuffing. Wish we could have written a few lines last night. Missin ya!

Have a great turkey day!

Princess Pointful said...

*giggle*
Funny to think how much that door is responsible for, who it has let in, and who it has seen leave...

singleton said...

Drips.....HONESTLY if blogger eats another one of my comebacks I'm gonna stomp my broken foot! And you are so very very right, she just needs a little TLC! Hoping you had a wonderful thanksgiving, sweet friend!

Eric....Isn't it the bomb when they cook? It's three days later and I'm still feastin' off the goodnature of those that feed me!

Princess... Thank God she doesn't talk!:)

Peace~love my friends

karoline in the morning said...

it takes a special person to hold close the character of a door....
i hear you..

k:)))

singleton said...

karoline....
because she has soul......
and protective wings...
and holds fast the secrets of our house....

and Iknowyouknow :)