Cabin Built for One

I know I still love living up here alone on a mountain, because when I was on a bus riding through Italy, the farms on the Tuscan hillside fascinated me. I marveled at the space and land they had. Then I would remind myself I have as much land if not more. For a suspended second I was still that city girl with that dream of one day having a farm and a tree house. I closed my eyes and fantasized about seeing my secret lover upon my return, of him coming over and helping me build a fence. In the decade-long span of yearning for my secret lover, I never once imagined we would be able to live our dream of having land and a farm together, but things have happened as I should have known they would because the only constant in nature is change, so right before I left for Italy he said, “we’re going be together soon.”

As I rode through Italy marveling at the Eurasian Magpies, I talked myself into our fantasy becoming a reality. Had he even proposed that we end up together a few months ago, I would have said no because I loved the rodeo cowboy that much. But the rodeo cowboy didn’t love me. So I let my imagination take off and I should’ve known not to do that because when I got home, my secret lover was gone, and I can’t say I’m that heart broken about it. I’ve been alone for so long, I couldn’t imagine having anyone in my life again. All I have are my fantasies. The Hurricane says that’s my six word memoir for the day. All. I. Have. Are. My. Fantasies.

I know I still like living up here alone on a mountain because when I drove by the weird little cabin by my house, which is my favorite, I marveled at the young man who gardened in his coveralls while his Australian sheep dog watched. I wanted to pull over and help and I’ve always wanted to go inside the cabin. It is two long, narrow rooms which make you wonder where the kitchen is, or where the bedroom might be. It is definitely built for only one person to occupy it. Hundreds of steps lead to the front porch where there’s a rocking chair and sometimes the young man sits there alone on warm summer nights.