peeping tom

i confess, i have mild peeping tom tendencies. it began as a girl, when i'd be driving or walking with my mom in the early evening (when it's dark enough to turn a light on, but too soon to close the blinds) and she would point out to me things of interest in the windows we'd pass. this room was beautifully decorated, this one had it's pictures hung too high, those people looked happy, that dining room table was set for a party. we never stood and gaped, or hid to stare, but as we passed we would gaze into the windows and guess at the lives within.

on saturday afternoon it began to rain, and rained well into the evening. once the thunder died down, i threw on an over sized men's raincoat and went for a short walk in it. the clouds made it darker than the hour justified, and many homes i walked past had their lights on and windows unshuttered. not a lot was going on late saturday afternoon, but i walked past one house on the street that made me smile. there weren't a lot of cars in front, maybe only 2, and what drew my attention was as soon as it came into view the kitchen lights turned off, tho there were 5 or 6 people in it. then they came back on again. as i got closer, i saw the tips of two flickering candles, just barely reaching over the window sill to my eyes. i noticed the people, a young couple and 3 older people - parents and grandparents - gathered around a small kitchen nook, smiles wide and arms wrapped around one another, all gazing into the corner, where a very small head of indeterminate gender bobbed alongside the candles. the light in the kitchen that spilled onto their driveway was yellow and warm, and for a moment the chilly rain was forgotten as the joy in that room made it past the window and warmed me. i can only hope that when my windows offer a glimpse into my home & life that they reveal love & joy, too.