Reinventing Beauty, Chapter 2 / Day 1 -- Rustic Simplicity

photocourtesyofjjjjoundblog

Peeps,

First of all I would like to thank all of my (old-school) peeps and FB peeps who were kind enough to send Happy Birthday greetings.  I am deeply touched by your kindness, and will share the love with my twin brother Kurt who also loves chocolate birthday-cake and rum-raisin ice-cream.  Mr. Sports had a small push-cart from which he sold home-made, hand-churned ice-cream.  I can't remember if he passed our house everyday, or only on weekend afternoons; the ring of his bell could turn even the stoniest of hearts into bright-eyed anticipation at the seasonal offerings of fruit-flavored cold, rich ice-cream with bits of mango, crabu, pine-apple, and other tropical fruits.  Whether it was the small amount of alcohol--or the mere thought of--in the rum-raisin ice-cream that caused my mother to sit dreamy-like on the porch swing for an hour or so after lunch, this infrequent freedom was also delicious.  In this time of relaxed vigilance, my brother could wander the neighborhood unchecked, and I would rifle through her wardrobe in search of hidden secrets.  

Today's visual treat shows an old, abandoned farmhouse with wonderfully aged brick walls and a high ceiling which would have made it perfect for staying cool during the summer.  The style reminds me a lot of the style of homes found in many parts of Mexico, and it is one which was a source of inspiration for architect Luis Barragan (as well as many others).  I also had this model in my mind while I worked on preliminary sketches for my friend E's dream home to be built back in Oaxaca.  He and I talked in length about the front facade of the house which was largely based on the architecture of houses that I had seen along city streets in Merida.  Numerous factors were discussed:  type and size of windows, a tile roof, a open central patio, and covered upper-level back porch for viewing the distant mountain range.  We both agreed that a sturdy front door and metal grilles covering the lower-level windows was absolute necessary given the increase of break-ins and armed robbery. 


 It was certainly quite exciting to chat about this creative endeavor and all the possibilities, marred only by the reality that E lives in a state of limbo.  Sending money home to build a house which he may never enjoy until he is much older is a common custom among many 'uninvited' laborers, yet not entirely satisfactory; extended periods of work here in America without the necessary documents puts one at the risk of exploitation by greedy landlords and bosses, harassment by the police in some counties or districts, as well as the risk of a lengthy internment in an immigrant-detention center makes the idea of the American dream almost a fallacy.  As is sending back 12 or 13 million workers who clean/cook/construct, produce/pick/pack our food-crops, wash/wipe/tend babies for working parents, work fast-food/family/chain/white table-cloth restaurants for low wages and tips.  Equally a fallacy is a cyber/virtual/physical fence that stretches across our borders for the purpose of security or control.  Or profit?


Muebete Obama.  (We) are growing tired, yet we remember your promise.  Muebete, Obama.  AHORA!!!


Thanks for reading our little blog, and hope you enjoy Monday's visual treat.


Sincerely,
Shane