me to a T - Tracey Odachowski

Yep - that’s right. It took me an entire week to write the thoughTs from last week. But I’m doing it now!!!

Last week’s challenge - Outside My Window

When I look outside the windows of our home, it usually isn’t very inspiring. Grass, fences, other houses, a few trees that weren’t knocked over during Isabel, the street. A far cry from where I grew up. What will my children think when they look? Do they get inspired by the things that are so different from what I looked at as a child? Will they get scared just as I did?

Growing up in my little blue and pink room, I had one window. I remember that it always made me mad that TJ had two windows AND a bigger closet. I’m the girl - I wanted the bigger closet! Of course, here we are, 29 and 32, and he still has a bigger closet than me - and WAY more clothes. But that’s beside the point. I had my little window, with light pink priscilla curtains. And when I looked out that window, all I saw was the abundant trees behind our house. So thick. So fun to go hiking through. They were great as long as the sun was up.

But when night fell, I would lie in bed and look out that same window. And the trees that were so fun during the day did strange things at night. They became animals, monsters, fairies, anything. Fairies were rare though. Usually those darn tree animals just scared me. I distinctly remember my heart racing on several occasions. I also remember arguing with myself in my head, knowing they were just trees, but seeing something far worse than that. And the sounds of all of the real animals outside didn’t help my head convince my heart any.

When I go home, I still sleep in that room, with the same window. The priscilla curtains are gone, and they have been replaced with a green blind. I can’t see the trees any more. In fact, I prefer the darkness that the blinds provide. It’s safer that way.

That’s what I saw as a kid. Do my children see scary things, too? Is that why I always keep the shades closed in their rooms at night???