An Unexpected Find
Today, just by chance, I discovered the room I would have loved to have had as a little girl…or teenager. Heck, I’d love to have it now. On my way to Walmart, traveling a back way to avoid some traffic, I happened to notice a stand-alone model home sitting off by itself a ways from a very nice neighborhood. With only a stint in Walmart to look forward to, I quickly turned, parked on the street and started up the path.
The house was a two-story and lovely. High ceilings, spacious rooms, filled to bursting with upgrades. And also filled to bursting by the interior designers–knick-knacks were everywhere, and the walls were pretty well covered with art. I took my time, looking through all the rooms and imagining how my life could fit into this house (although we are NOT thinking of moving). And then I stepped into my dream room. It was decorated for a little girl, with white lace and flowers and bows, really rather tasteful, but not my particular style. But then I noticed the little alcove to the right of the bed. The archway had a vague Moorish style, and they’d mounted sheer curtains that would close it off from the main room. It was furnished with a little table, two chairs, and a lamp, and it was set for a tea party. I envisioned a day bed or a comfy chair and a wide bookcase. I envisioned a reading nook and was enchanted.
And then I noticed the creme de la creme! In the closet, on a wall dedicated to bookshelves (!), there was a sign. It said, “Push to see our secret room.” Of course I pushed. And there, behind the future wall of books, was a secret hideout, a very spacious forgotten room with no windows. How brilliant is that! I didn’t check, but as long as it had an air-conditioning vent, I could hole myself up in there for hours! It was a magical, what-if kind of moment.
And then I went to Walmart and the magic promptly died.
10/07/2008 at 1:09 am
If I wrote slogans professionally I would say Walmart: the place that dreams go to die
That is probably why I don’t have that job.
The room sounds enchanting. I once pleaded with my parents to choose a particular house because it had a strawberry shortcake decorated room. They did, but the people took all of their strawberry shortcake things with them. I also really wanted a wardrobe because C.S. Lewis had convinced me of their magical powers.
10/07/2008 at 1:12 am
Walmart has a secret room with no windows.
You have to be caught shoplifting to see it, though.
(Sarakastic told me)
10/07/2008 at 2:28 am
Walmart does tend to end the magic.
I would love to have that room. I read lots of Nancy Drew books and a secret room behind a bookshelf sounds wonderful!
10/07/2008 at 2:30 am
Oh, man. I would have loved that room as a kid. Maybe not the pink and the lace, but the secret room would make my little heart explode with excitement. I would have done so much. I can see myself having a club in there when I was younger, and I was older, I’d turn it into a reading/writing room. It would have been awesome.
I had a loose floorboard, but not the kind like you see on TV with the deep bottom. So I kept trading cards and a little money hidden in there in secret.
10/07/2008 at 4:49 am
I would love that room now. My grandparents home had a “secret room” that was accessed through a panel in the wall. I loved it.
10/08/2008 at 2:43 am
Good to see you, Packsaddle. I could use the comic relief a little more frequently though (hint hint).
And a removable floor board is not too shabby, Jason. It’s no secret room, but still…
10/08/2008 at 11:44 am
Oh, that sounds awesome!
When I was younger one of my friends came over and said, “Your room looks just like the pictures in the magazines.” So, I loved my room. But I like the one you described better! Having a secret room, not to mention the alcove, would be so awesome!
10/08/2008 at 5:58 pm
That room sounds so cool. As a kid I would have loved it, but as an adult I would love it even more. A secret place to go write and read…escaping the real world for a while.
Totally with you on Walmart. We have a love/hate relationship. Love the deals, but hate to go there.
10/08/2008 at 8:43 pm
I keep envisioning a window nook with a built-in bookcase up one side of the nook and then the sheer curtains to close it off. I probably would have spent all day every day in a nook like that if I’d had one!
No secret room or floorboard for me but I used to stash things behind my books in my bookcase. I felt all Harriet The Spy!
10/09/2008 at 4:02 am
Your day sounds like a microcosm of life sometimes — swept away on a happy cloud of fantasy, vacation, or a good book, then BLAM, back to harsh reality. 😉
10/14/2008 at 3:45 am
I would love a secret hideout. So would each of my kids!