My Fantasy Home

One might call it envy, but I call it fantasy!

You see, I can't shake this house out of my head. I spotted it a few weeks ago when I was home for Thanksgiving, riding around with my two friends in my old neighborhood in New Jersey. This house is about three minutes away from the house I used to live in (which, while really nice, bore no resemblance the stone McMansion illustrated here).

My friends and I have seen these houses more times than we can count, and as jaded as it sounds, I never really appreciated how grand they were. They all sort of melted into a blur after a while. My eyes adjusted to the size, I guess.

But this one just jumped out at me. I'm pretty sure that it was the shaggy dog that did it for me, as the house certainly wasn't the biggest, nor was it taking home the prize for most elaborate, energy-sucking holiday lights display. No, I think it was simply how content and happy this little pup was. He looked so soft and fluffy, like he'd just been shampooed with Kiehl's Cuddly-Coat Grooming Shampoo. (Probably by the person who was wildly Windexing the glass door inside while I took this picture.)

When I rolled down the window to take a picture, it just stayed there. No barking. No running. It was so dignified.

So you know when you can't fall asleep or you're on the verge of a panic attack, and you're supposed to picture a calm, peaceful, happy setting? I used to picture snow falling on a white beach. Now I just picture this house, on this night.