And the walls come tumbling down...

It's been several weeks and there's been a lot of progress on my mountaintop. A lot of progress and a lot of trash!



Beginning with a trip to City Hall to get all the pertinent permits, as well as invaluable advice on who best to do the demo, I've since been buried in debris, dust and a parade of construction workers. 

The vegetation has been removed from inside the foundation as it currently exists, and the top three remaining floors have been removed and hauled away. The lovely arched window from the upper floor has been delicately handled and is gratefully packed away in a neighbor's basement. Neighbors have been restrained in their questions but I sense that will end soon. For now, it seems as though a few people in this town are so pleased to see something happening with this house that they are offering much help and encouragement. 

Bathroom facilities are my most urgent need but I can't bring myself to take advantage of this gesture of friendship. I've moved my campsite to a more secluded area of my property so I can avail myself of a pail and a gallon of water for emergencies but mostly I take advantage of a nearby park's restrooms and the city gym. 
While I might be a country girl by birth, I've watched enough television to figure out how big cities work - or at least I'd thought so before moving to Bridgeport. I'm discovering this city has the shell of a metropolis but the heart of a village by way of amenities. For a small fee assessed to all Bridgeportans and included with the utilities and taxes, transportation (taxis and subways) is free, as well as newspapers and gym memberships.

Since I feel weird just stopping by for a shower, I typically spend some time on a treadmill or weight bench, turning my body into a MACHINE! Well, that might be a slight exaggeration but I am more fit than when I arrived. 

I've even met some local celebrities and must admit it's kind of exciting seeing the paparazzi hanging around, too...at least for now.



Anyway, turns out to be a good thing as my newfound muscles enable me to pitch in with the demolition work and stretch my dollars a little bit further. I'm also learning to do a bit of the work myself. I imagine myself to be very handy but it does seem as though the librarians sigh when they see me coming for another DIY book.

The city is also pretty forward-thinking with their employment. Flexibility is key, especially with the portion of the work-force that wants to remain "casual". Money is tight for me but it is fairly easy to obtain part-time work and get a respectable wage in return. The local diner gets pretty busy around the lunch-hour so I am able to work in a few hours during the week when I find the time to spare.


I've a little accounting notebook that I'm carefully logging in all of my expenses -  and wages - and for now, I'm actually saving just a little. Still I can't imagine being able to put four walls around me, let alone a roof. 

Food prices are high but I'm not ready to eat out of garbage cans just yet. I brought some heirloom seeds from home and, once the demolition traffic abates, I'm going to plant a little garden that will, eventually, pay off with better and cheaper meals. Once the foundation and pool are removed, I'll check in with the consignment store and see if I can pick up a used grill and tackle, as well as a bike. Wow! For the first time ever I'm finally starting to get a feeling of true independence.  

As for today, with the land finally stripped of the remains of its former glory, I decided to take a mini-break and "play" in one of the city parks. I've not had much time to discover Bridgeport's leisure spots so was terribly excited get away from the homestead - and maybe even get a haircut or new outfit. Luckily the weather was perfect and, with the sun warm upon my back, I spent a lovely afternoon getting aquainted with Bridgeport's flora and fauna. Happily, I also discovered that the city has much in the way of natural resources and actually encourages its citizens to harvest the bugs and minerals for scientific examination. I think I've found a way to keep my belly full! 

As for my outward appearances, I stopped by the consignment shop on the way home and found a sweet little dress and heels that look both trendy and new. I definitely feel more Bridgeport than Moss Pond in it but, until I've got a place to store my clothes, I need to keep my purchases to a minimum. This dress will serve as party-wear and, with a sweater thrown over it, work-wear as well and, with it being such a bargain, I refuse to feel guilty about dipping just a bit into my house fund. 


As a matter of fact, I splurged just a bit more and stopped by the salon for a new cut that will more accurately reflect my new "sophistication". Of course, I still need to keep it ready-to-wear! Perhaps my citification will have to wait for indoor plumbing.

Surveying the land...

A course of action determined, I figure now's as good a time as any to peruse the grounds as they pertain to the neighborhood. I am speechless! From the back of the property I can see clear into downtown Bridgeport and am excited for the sun to set as I'm sure the lights will give a fairytale-like quality to the city vista. But then, with the sun just starting to settle on the horizon, I am anxious for it to remain, as the pale coral and lemon shades tint the ocean waters as I never expected. This is my first real look at the wide, blue sea and it is far from what I'd imagined it to be. When I rebuild, this view must be preserved.

Glancing down, one of my neighbor's homes catches my eye - a large white modern box and, even though it has a pool, the entirety seems a bit sterile. It is the antithesis of what I want my home to be. A wish pops into my mind that my neighbors are not the sort to partake in warm-evening skinny dips and, if they are, that I am far enough away as to find their bare skin indistinguishable from bathing suits. It is likely, however, that after living here for a couple of years, I too will develop a nonchalance about what I see and hear. I guess I mainly wish that they are friendly and willing to invite a stranger into their midst.

Turning to the left to follow the ocean stretching farther than the eye can see, I can make out the rooftops of other nearby homes. They're a bit more distant so I feel a little less like I'm living in their pockets. There's a bit of a berm on this side of the property so I'll be able to preserve some of my privacy without forfeiting too much of the view. I'd like to build my bedroom facing this direction.

Behind me is a clearing that will make a fine site for my temporary home. It looks out toward the city as well as the port and is mostly hidden from the street. It also seems relatively devoid of rubble, a fact I will be most thankful for in the morning after a night of sleeping on the ground. Mentally I add sleeping bag to the shopping list and pull my cell phone from my pocket. Until I familiarize myself with the city, the taxi service will be on speed dial!

The driver promises to arrive soon, so I head to the front of the house to wait. A glance to my left reveals another neighbor, this one so close I can see activity within. And wouldn't you know, they have an above ground swimming pool with glass walls and I realize how naive my wish of a moment ago is. This is the big city and I'll have to shake off the small town dust in a hurry. Momentarily my shyness  overcomes me but I push it down as it can only hinder my integration into this community. It is essential that I make as many friends as possible for they are all a part of my new story.

First Steps...

Exiting the taxi, it is difficult to see the house as the trees have grown up around the walls and through the floors and the roof is missing. 




Squinting I can imagine how glorious it must have once been - and will be again. 



There's a beautiful old Magnolia in the front and I think to myself that it must be saved, even if it means building the house around it. It will remind me of Moss Pond and my old life. 








Astonishingly, the roses are abundant, even after years of neglect. When times get tough, as they are sure to, I'll remember the tenacity of these roses. They, too, will have a home.



Venturing further onto the land, I get a sense of isolation, even though I've neighbors nearby. Giving myself a little hug, I savor the quiet knowing it won't be long before my days will be marred by a cacophony of noise as the house is razed, trees are trimmed and weeds are pulled. 

Circling the property, even a novice can see that the house is unlivable, as well as unsafe. Make no doubt about it, I'm disappointed but convinced it will make little difference. A home is more than four walls...it's a place you can call your own...a refuge...sanctuary... Starting over, all of this will be a part of my new life, building my story as I build my home.


Auntie left me a few Simoleons - not enough to rebuild but surely enough for a fresh start. While I can't afford to stay in a hotel, I'm sure I can swing a few bucks for a used tent at the Army Surplus store. Like I said, home is more than four walls! 

The first day of the rest of my life...

My name is Lea Gacy and this is the first day of the rest of my life. Cliche, I know, but several events in my life, one upon another, 

are giving me the push I need to leave my little world and venture out into a much bigger one. Few have ever heard of my small town, population 43 - well, 42 now! I was born there but I refuse to die there, too. Before today, the farthest I've been is nearby Riverview, still mostly rural but many times larger than Moss Pond, USA. 




Anyway, I'm a stranger here in Bridgeport. No one will have ever met or heard of me, making me a clean slate. What they'll know is that I'm here with an inheritance, taking up residence in a broken down home that's been sitting vacant ever since my Auntie, who owned this house before passing it on to me - such as it is - died the day after I was born when the light plane she was in overshot the emergency landing planned for Main Street and took a "dive" into the very pond for which my birth city was named. That means this poor old house has been vacant for 20 years, 9 months and 15 days. It's unlikely that many people will even remember childless, unmarried Auntie, making my origins ripe for re-writing.


It's not like there's much behind me anyway. Auntie passed but I didn't know about her existence until recently when I found the will in my mother's possessions, which I was sorting through after Mama's untimely, but longed for, death. What I mean is, Daddy and I never met because he died in Desert Shield when I was barely 4 months old, breaking Mama's heart and leaving her pining for her true love until her last breath. Auntie was Daddy's sister but Mama never spoke a word of her out-loud. Maybe too much time passed between the event of the plane crash and an age when I would understand such things or maybe she was just too sorrowful to think on it, especially with Daddy being gone and all. As you might imagine, Mama never remarried so it was just me and her all that time and, with Mama so lost in the past, mostly just me. Now it's truly just me...and my inheritance.


It's not much, just a bit of land on a hill with what remains of a once grand home. My inquiries to the lawyers of Auntie's estate produced some old photos of the house several years after losing it's owner and I imagined it residing there, it's roots clinging to the earth, dreaming of a time when it was again noticed...and tended with loving care. I might be a bit fanciful but I knew that my poor little life with a distracted and unintentionally neglectful mother mirrored that of this shell of a home and that we were meant to heal each other. Upon my signature, the lawyers reluctantly wished me luck, passing me a large yellow envelope containing an ornate key, paper deed, bank account information, and a map. 


Grabbing up my few belongings, I eagerly caught the bus south and, a short taxi ride later, arrived just as you see. It's hard to explain how the very air beckons to me, even as it becomes apparent that I'll not be using the key provided such a short time ago. The house will have to be rebuilt and the gardens cleared, but I am home. I am Lea Gacy and this is the first day of the rest of my life...