The house I grew up in in Madison, back in the '80s, was a typical ranch house. After my parents had a small addition constructed (FL / sunroom), it amounted to +/-1,800 sf. A quirk of this house was that the garage flooded (even with the garage door closed) during a deluge. I remember having to "sweep out the garage" immediately following these rainstorms. There was always either a push or corn broom on hand for this task. But even then, the concrete garage floor would remain saturated / puddled, thereby making traversing throughout a slippery affair. And if it was mild weather, this dampness would remain for days.
When my parents sold this house (1990 - my freshman year at MSU) in order to move into a rental ('till their newly constructed home was finished), I wonder if they disclosed this quirk. For they never made any effort to remedy it. It was just one of those nuisances that we lived with throughout our time there.
Today, when you attempt to sell a home, disclosures are expected. For every house has its quirks. I remember populating my mother-in-law's disclosure statement for the home she sold a few years back. It was multiple pages of Q & A with sizable legal warnings throughout threatening legal action if the document wasn't ENTIRELY FORTHCOMING.
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My oldest friend's wife is morbidly obese. She's always been overweight, but over the past 3-4 years, she's gained more and more pounds. Now it's to the point (for those of us who've known her for decades) of the inevitable shock (especially considering their Xmas photo card).
She's also a heavy, heavy social media user (political commentary).
When I last spoke to my friend, his wife was unemployed, having been laid off from her job. He mentioned a job prospect she was pursuing that would title her "Admin Assistant" for a consulting engineering firm. This position was in line with much of her resume.
I asked him to let me know if she received an expected offer.
I haven't heard back from him since then.
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I was convicted early on within my life that "letting one's hair down" always came with a cost (physical appearance / words). And most of the time that cost (for me at least) was risking offense and, in turn, the due penalty (some semblance of rejection). Therefore, I'm constantly weighing risk versus reward herein. And, I believe, that's a worthwhile exercise to be tasked with. It strengthens emotional muscle which promotes / endorses maturity.
It's one of the main reasons I enjoy writing publicly on this blog as well as my former blog.
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Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to say "hello" to a cousin whilst meeting with a longstanding business owner client (my cousin happens to work there). He was shocked to see me. This made the rendezvous all that more special.
My personal blog, "The Architect's Garage", that was deleted in September of '13, was a combination of video / text posts that spanned +/-5 years. There was a naivety there. I'd go so far as to say an emotional immaturity. I posted thoughts and feelings that were deeply revealing within that blog. Especially as it pertained to my dad / our relationship when I was a child. As such, it reflected exactly where I was for such a time as that.
This aforementioned cousin was offended enough by those posts to alert his father (my dad's youngest brother, who he loved dearly). And though the blog had long since been deleted when I came to be made aware of this squeal, I felt something that I'd never felt before as it pertained to my family.
Seen and somewhat known. It represented an incredible leveling up for me. For it was the first time someone (within my Turner extended family) actually had the opportunity to pay attention to the Rob that I truly was / had been.
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There are folks who live to be spotlit. I believe my friend's wife falls into that category. Her physical self is a mirror to her online one.
There are others who are required (at times) to be in the spotlight. For it's the only way they can make sense of the world they're faced with. Especially regarding those who just might take the time to read the entire disclosure.
I am so looking forward to seeing my cousin again soon.
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