The old door sighed,
not a sigh of lassitude, but rather one of serene contentment.
It had lived its life from a young sapling which had grown into a fine oak tree in the forest.
One day, it was decided that the tree was big enough to cut down.
It was then transported to the lumber mill, cut into planks
which passed into the hands of capable and talented carpenters.
A fine door was made.
It could be seen from the patina on the surface of the wood,
that many years had passed, one hundred and fifty to be exact.
The door's constant companion, the rather elegantly shaped door-knocker,
had been there right from the start.
There was quiet, understated beauty in the harmonious lines and design.
despite the now tarnished appearance.
The old door and the knocker had retained the wondrous charm of days long gone by.
They both remembered ladies in crinoline dresses
holding up lacy edged parasols against the sun,
for it wasn't fashionable in those days to have a suntan.
They had witnessed suitors coming to visit the young ladies
living in the house, quickly adjusting their appearance before knocking on the door.
There had been many a shy kiss exchanged on the now worn door-step.
Horses and carriages had passed by in those early days.
Neither the door nor the knocker had become accustomed to the noise
and smell of cars and how they polluted the air.
"What is the world coming to?" they said to each other.
Yet here they are, holding strong, still together after all these years
facing the changes over time philosophically,
conscious of the joys and suffering of humanity
and hoping their steady presence had been of some comfort and reassurance in times of need.
Neither of them knew what the future reserved,
but this did not worry them.
Through their intuitive inner wisdom, they knew that the only reality
was that of each new day
and that was the secret of their constant contentment.
***
On the first Sunday of each month, I join Sarah at Paisley Rainboots and Lee at Sea Blue Lens
for Scene and Story with a favourite photograph from the past month
and the story it inspires.
Read other stories too on this monthly link-up.
It's story time again!
