Assignment – “…The colors in our photographs are evocative and rouse emotions within us. Color can elevate a mundane image into something intriguing and meaningful, and can tell a particular story within the frame…”
There is a house in our neighborhood that is particularly intriguing. In a community of conservative bungalows, it looks like a picture straight off a Mary Engelbreit Card. I can’t help but be drawn to it; so quaint with an eclectic collection of fountains and sculptures. Everything about this house says, “Come visit”. Or, I suppose, if you like the darker side, it could be a ruse to lure children, as in the Hansel and Gretel story. I choose to see it as a bright spot in our neighborhood; one that invokes happiness and cheer. Furthermore, it reminds me of my grandmother.
My grandmother was filled with compassion and joy but she also suffered from bouts of depression. In efforts to lift her spirits, she surrounded herself with happy things. One wall in her living room was covered with a mural of deer grazing. Another wall was a mural of greenery; gaudy to most, but Heaven-like to her. She lived in very conservative Salt Lake City, Utah. Rows and rows of white, wooden houses lined the streets in her neighborhood. A devout Mormon, Grandma would not be a conformist in house decor. She painted her house a bright, nearly fluorescent green, and planted pink flamingoes in her yard. You could spot her house the moment you turned onto the street and it made me laugh. I loved her dearly and these remembrances of her always put a big smile on my face.
One of these days, I will introduce myself to the owners of this house. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they, too, remind me of my grandmother.
Living Over The Hill 
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