{Preface}
One night our favorite neighbors were moving, which made us sad and nostalgic--for some reason this seemed at the time like the final indication that our remaining days at Mariposa C were numbered. Flipping through the pages of my copy of "A House on Mango Street," I decided that Sandra Cisneros' vignette style (which I've always had fun with) was the perfect inspiration to record some of the most memorable bits of our 2-ish years here before it's all over. I'm sure there may be some worthy things I forget, so if you can think of one, just let me know.
For our friends and family (or should I just call it family).
One night our favorite neighbors were moving, which made us sad and nostalgic--for some reason this seemed at the time like the final indication that our remaining days at Mariposa C were numbered. Flipping through the pages of my copy of "A House on Mango Street," I decided that Sandra Cisneros' vignette style (which I've always had fun with) was the perfect inspiration to record some of the most memorable bits of our 2-ish years here before it's all over. I'm sure there may be some worthy things I forget, so if you can think of one, just let me know.
For our friends and family (or should I just call it family).
An Apartment on
Mariposa Street
We did not always live on Mariposa Street.
The first two months we spent on Canyon Court, overlooking Bear Valley in a beautiful house that was not our own. Before that, a week on a cruise ship with a balcony that overlooked the coast of Mexico.
But Mariposa was our first.
The first two months we spent on Canyon Court, overlooking Bear Valley in a beautiful house that was not our own. Before that, a week on a cruise ship with a balcony that overlooked the coast of Mexico.
But Mariposa was our first.
I found her when I wasn’t quite searching for her; just
driving, when a little flower on a bright blue sign caught my eye, For Rent.
I called. He came. There were three open, and I chose one. The one with the fridge, the pedestal sink I’d always loved, and the big single pane windows with a view of the mountains.
Unit C.
Of course that wasn’t really a fact at the time, since there were no letter labels at first, which led to us stealing our neighbor’s gas company appointment, and to our other neighbors sending packages and cops to our door by mistake. But we bought three barstools at a garage sale, carried in our new collection of used furniture, and we were home.
I called. He came. There were three open, and I chose one. The one with the fridge, the pedestal sink I’d always loved, and the big single pane windows with a view of the mountains.
Unit C.
Of course that wasn’t really a fact at the time, since there were no letter labels at first, which led to us stealing our neighbor’s gas company appointment, and to our other neighbors sending packages and cops to our door by mistake. But we bought three barstools at a garage sale, carried in our new collection of used furniture, and we were home.
