January 2000 January 1999 January 1998 Rachel's Daily Diary _________________ Friday 14 January 2000   8 31 pm pst   [ house rules ] People often make judgements about others based on their living space. You would think you could tell a lot about someone from their bedroom. My brother has the kind of college dorm that I would classify as "cool". Walls covered with pictures of women and exotic lacales. "That's me in Ecuador. That's me in Spain. That's me in Israel."

Having divorced parents, meant having two rooms, and neither reflected my personality. My posessions were divided, as was my lifestyle. Monday at my mom's, Tuesday at my dad's, Wednesday at my mom's, Thursday at my dad's... Every single week. My mother once praised me for never complaining, but it had never occured to me -- that was the way things were. I never considered that life could be any different. My dorm room was an eclectic mix of nonsense. I had a poster with a stunning black man on it. That caption read something like "Good things don't always come in small packages." There were dozens and dozens of dried roses which I hung on my walls. I had easily befriended the nearest florist and I loved procuring fresh bouquets whenever possible. My apartment walls were covered in hundreds of postcards which I found clever or beautiful.

And now I have spread myself to more homes. I live in the shells of my childhood -- my parents' houses. I lived with my grandfather in New York, and with my boyfriend in Berkeley. I live with my boyfriend at his parents' house here in LA. I am used to living out of a suitcase. And I hope I will not be judged by where I chose to plant myself, at least until I find a more permanent home. I hope I can fix up these childhood rooms so that they feel like a present home, instead of one of memory only. * * * Try a larger version of the following flower watercolor. * * * <   yesterday   |   month   |   tomorrow   > ~   back to Rachel's Daily Diary   ~