Providence Bedroom Views

A typical Providence backyard, that has seen too many years of renters and not enough ownership participation, is the view that I wake up to each morning. Normally the old aluminum door to the back of the house is left unchecked, to sway noisily in the wind, but for the first time in a long time it has been secured closed. I see a dented trash barrel tipped over on its sides collecting shallow pools of water so that in a few weeks, and with some slightly warmer weather, hoards of mosquitoes will settle here and claim it as their breeding ground. One of the trash barrels closest to the house, is curiously flipped completely upside-down as if in an effort to keep the lot tidy and stop the pools of water from forming. However it seems this endeavor proved too much hassle as the rest of the area remains neglected.

An old wheelchair also sits behind the house, next to the flipped barrel, halfway folded as if it were about to be tucked away in an appropriate place, but evidence suggests that this place was never found. Word is that the chairs owner had lived at the residence for over thirty years and was forced to move into a nursing home against her will due to dementia and other elderly ailments. I heard she died less than a week after being evicted. I can't imagine the pain and suffering associated with being forcibly removed from the place you have chosen to live your life, only to have it ripped from your grasp at the end of it all, especially while dealing with the confusion brought on by her illness.

A busted futon frame, leans against a rabbit pen that probably hasn't seen an actual rabbit for the better part of a decade. Only a few feet away it's ratty brown, imitation leather, mattress lays touching one of the newer trash cans that was delivered by the mayor on election day a couple years ago, even though they sat useless in a warehouse for the better part of a year. I know because I worked on the campaign to get those trash barrels. The city had become plagued with rats that were bigger than most cats due to several factors, including but not limited to, the lack of proper trash receptacles, or excuse me timely vote incentives. Anyway, the mattress has become a victim to the elements and confirms the fact that it has reached the end of its lifespan. It's funny but it looks like there are plenty of containers to haul away the debris that litters the property but no one willing to devote the time to do it.

The paint is rapidly peeling off the single bay garage, who knows what treasures and trash it holds. Regardless it doesn't contain the two abandoned cars which have also become part of the landscape. One is dark blue 1990's VW Jetta that I would have loved to have owned at one point in time, but the other is a hearse with fading metallic, light blue paint. The windows are still decorated with yellowing curtains that I'm sure used to be white and cheap hardware store lettering that reads "love family". I often wonder how many families had their loved ones remains transported by this vehicle. Now it serves as a home to a feral cat colony which my dog thoroughly enjoys watching on a day to day basis. All this and the past few days of soggy, gray, New England Spring makes good motivation for a change of scenery. Now I just need a job so I can accrue some vacation time!