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(R.H. Herron)

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Orange

December 19, 2005

Think really good thoughts for us, okay? We’re putting a bid
in on a house this afternoon before I go to work. We have no
pre-approved financing because god bless me if we ever do anything in
the right order. This smacks of shades of the Little Red Wagon Wheel
House: Bidding! Suddenly! Want a house! Yes, crazy!

But this house, oh. It has cosmetic blemishes (for the love of
alpaca, the earnest young realtor had placed a red BOW on the side of
the house), like needing flooring in pretty much every room in the
place (linoleum in the bedroom), and it smells like smoke (and
again, the young male realtor who probably called his mother for advice
on this was burning candles, as many as possibly ALL the scented
candles in Oakland, ALL the scents, so evergreen was mixed with vanilla
mixed with lemon mixed with old smoke, and he was just grinning away on
the couch — he seemed very sweet, though). But it has three small
bedrooms, one for us, and one for an office for each of us, which will
add to sanity, and it has a yard, and it’s in the BEST neighborhood,
one that we know and love, and we met some neighbors who were the
cutest things, and the best was when La told me later just what I was
thinking, "It’s the kind of place I always thought I’d live when I grew
up." Me, too.

And hey, if it’s not to be, it won’t be. I worry about disappointing
Lala, and I worry about disappointing myself. I worry that my big
sudden dreams will be smashed on the ground, but I  know that the
actual truth is that if that happens, I’ll just be disappointed. I’ll
have a good cry, and Lala will be sad, but she’ll tell me it’s okay,
and then we’ll rent out my place and rent a bigger place for us to be
together, and that’s what this is all about anyway, right?

It sure could be cute, though. We’d paint it orange. Dreams don’t hurt.

Posted by Rachael 36 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Imbrium says

    December 19, 2005 at 12:29 pm

    *thinking the best thoughts I can muster*
    It’s hard to be Zen about it when you want something so much, isn’t it? Good luck!

    Reply
  2. CJ says

    December 19, 2005 at 12:39 pm

    Oh, how cool! I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed!

    Reply
  3. Carole says

    December 19, 2005 at 12:42 pm

    **good thoughts**

    Reply
  4. Christie says

    December 19, 2005 at 12:47 pm

    fingers crossed for you both!!!

    Reply
  5. maryse says

    December 19, 2005 at 12:49 pm

    good luck!

    Reply
  6. Mia says

    December 19, 2005 at 1:02 pm

    Since it smells like smoke, please mae sure you check that the place has not been involved in a fire. People do fix things up and sell them after a fire and not tell. (Even though they are supposed to.) Candles burning should not smell like smoke. And I am crossing my fingers for you.

    Reply
  7. Minna says

    December 19, 2005 at 1:05 pm

    All my fingers and toes are crossed for y’all! And it is really really hard to want something so bad and try to be objective, but it is a good thing, even if it turns out not to be for a little while.
    And… if it *does* work out and you do get it, I have one word for any nicotine stain issues that might arise in the near future: KILZ.

    Reply
  8. jessica~ says

    December 19, 2005 at 1:15 pm

    Sending good, positive thoughts to you and La! Best of luck!

    Reply
  9. Anne says

    December 19, 2005 at 1:23 pm

    Fingers crossed!!! (The apt. I’m in had carpet in the bathroom & kitchen… What are people THINKING when they put down floors?!? My Dad wanted me to put down wall-to-wall over my wood floors! Honestly!)

    Reply
  10. Scout says

    December 19, 2005 at 1:52 pm

    GOOD THOUGHTS!

    Reply
  11. Sharlene says

    December 19, 2005 at 2:11 pm

    Thinking *good thoughts* for whatever is to happen to happen. ๐Ÿ™‚ And a little old fashioned Good Luck wouldn’t hurt either!

    Reply
  12. Rabbitch says

    December 19, 2005 at 2:47 pm

    Fingers crossed! Toes crossed! Legs crossed! Eyes crossed!
    I’m sorry I read this post before I started making the last set of stitch markers I have to do for the holidays. They’re going to look like crap with all of this crossing going on around here.
    Best of luck — I’m hoping like hell on your behalf.

    Reply
  13. alison says

    December 19, 2005 at 2:55 pm

    good thoughts good thoughts good thoughts

    Reply
  14. claudia says

    December 19, 2005 at 2:57 pm

    Yeah! Orange!
    Best of luck, babe.

    Reply
  15. Samantha says

    December 19, 2005 at 3:22 pm

    Good luck! My fingers are crossed for you! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  16. Megann says

    December 19, 2005 at 3:45 pm

    Good luck to you on your house buying venture! I’m sending good thoughts your way.

    Reply
  17. Wendy says

    December 19, 2005 at 3:48 pm

    Fingers FIRMLY crossed . . .

    Reply
  18. Celia says

    December 19, 2005 at 3:54 pm

    Thinking orange thoughts and dreaming high for you darlings.

    Reply
  19. melissa says

    December 19, 2005 at 4:38 pm

    Hopeful….
    Fingers crossed!

    Reply
  20. --Deb says

    December 19, 2005 at 6:05 pm

    Good luck!! Sending good vibes your way….

    Reply
  21. Rachel H says

    December 19, 2005 at 7:52 pm

    Dreams are good. Add me to the list of good thought thinkers!

    Reply
  22. Jon says

    December 19, 2005 at 10:06 pm

    That realtor sounds like an Eliza Doolittle in need of a Henry Higgins. Should I maybe volunteer?
    Good luck with the house! And you know… if it’s meant to be, it’ll work out.

    Reply
  23. Dani says

    December 20, 2005 at 2:43 am

    House hunting is such an emotional rollercoaster. I am keeping good thoughts for you!

    Reply
  24. Carey says

    December 20, 2005 at 3:54 am

    I’m crossing my fingers (and my needles too) for both of you!

    Reply
  25. Kat says

    December 20, 2005 at 6:37 am

    What a great holiday gift the house would be. Needles are crossed. (I can’t cross my fingers or I wouldn’t make my holiday knitting deadlines.) Good luck!

    Reply
  26. Shelley says

    December 20, 2005 at 6:47 am

    Sending good house karma out your guys way!

    Reply
  27. Terry in SF says

    December 20, 2005 at 7:31 am

    (Chanting, chanting…) Keeping the fingers crossed for the deal to happen!!) You both deserve it.

    Reply
  28. Wanda says

    December 20, 2005 at 7:40 am

    Good luck on the bidding process. I hope you two get it!

    Reply
  29. jeni says

    December 20, 2005 at 7:48 am

    good luck, my needles are crossed!

    Reply
  30. megan says

    December 20, 2005 at 8:18 am

    fingers, toes, and everything else crossed for you two!

    Reply
  31. Silvia says

    December 20, 2005 at 9:07 am

    GOOD GOOD LUCK! I hope you get the right house for you.
    We can have a big ol painting party when/if/when you get the/a house. I love to paint. And no drinking til we’re done…not much anyway.

    Reply
  32. The Mysterious K says

    December 20, 2005 at 9:37 am

    Good luck, Rachel and Lala! We have our fingers crossed for you! TMK and Ryan

    Reply
  33. Carrie says

    December 20, 2005 at 9:49 am

    thinking good thoughts for you two!

    Reply
  34. Rachel T says

    December 20, 2005 at 9:58 am

    Needles and fingers crossed for you!!

    Reply
  35. Petra says

    December 20, 2005 at 12:19 pm

    Well I’ll certainly will keep my fingers crossed for the two of you.
    Best wishes
    Petra

    Reply
  36. Betsy says

    December 20, 2005 at 12:25 pm

    Needles crossed for you two!!!!!!!!

    Reply

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