House Where Nobody Lives

Every morning, on my way to Mateo's school, I walk across the street from this old house. When I first arrived in the city, it was dry and hot. From a distance, there was not much to see other than just an old house in an old neighborhood. As I looked at this building it was like the reflection in a mirror of how I was feeling inside.

Days went by... and then one morning, I walked across the street. I was intrigued by what I saw.



Slowly, as the weather cooled down and we got some rain, flowers and weeds started to grow. And the eerie image of death and past in front of me began to take on a form of life... Odd yet beautiful.



My friend Patrick Grizzell introduced me to Tom Wait's amazing music. He even bought me a cd a long time ago. Tom Waits wrote a incredible song called "House Where Nobody Lives". When I saw this house for the very first time, of course, I thought of this song. So melancholy.


Every morning as I walked by the old house I'd think "I should have brought my camera!". Days and weeks went by until yesterday morning. I finally took my camera.



As I look into the eyes of the bride and groom on this picture, I feel heart-broken...


And wonder who they are, why that picture was placed there on that broken window... Did they live in this house? Are they still together? Do they love each other still? Did they pass away? Is she a widow? Did she leave him behind? Who used to live here? Why did they leave? Will they ever come back?



Why is the house so abandoned and torn down now?



House Where Nobody Lives
Tom Waits

There's a house on my block.

That's abandoned and cold
.
Folks moved out of it a long time ago.

And they took all their things
.
And they never came back.

Looks like it's haunted
 with the windows all cracked.
And everyone call it the house,
the house where nobody lives.



Once it held laughter.

Once it held dreams
.
Did they throw it away?

Did they know what it means?

Did someone's heart break?

Or did someone do somebody wrong?




Well the paint was all cracked.

It was peeled off of the wood.

Papers were stacked on the porch where I stood.
And the weeds had grown up

just as high as the door.

There were birds in the chimney

and an old chest of drawers.

Looks like no one will ever come back
to the House were nobody lives
.

Once it held laughter
,
Once it held dreams.

Did they throw it away?

Did they know what it means?

Did someone's heart break?

Or did someone do someone wrong?



So if you find someone.
Someone to have, someone to hold.

Don't trade it for silver.

Don't trade it for gold.


I have all of life's treasures
.
And they are fine and they are good.

They remind me that houses 
are just made of wood.


What makes a house grand
.
Oh ain't the roof or the doors.

If there's love in a house
,
it's a palace for sure
.


Without love...
it ain't nothin' but a house
,
a house where nobody lives.


I am no professional photographer, you know. But sometimes I see things I feel a need to share. There are moments that I really want to capture, timeless.

I've enjoyed sharing these pictures with you, along with Tom Wait's Lyrics. I have so many pictures, it was tough to choose. Some of them may seem repetitive, but I couldn't leave them out.

Hope you've enjoyed.

Much love.

Araceli