August 14, 2002

• Listening to Sigur Ros. Laying in an antique queen-size bed in what used to be my room in my parents’ house.
  
  When I was a little kid, this room seemed to be made of a number of small places, all connected somehow. Like, the closet place, each of the corner places, the left window place, the right window place, the behind-the-door place.
  
  I used to have a bunk bed almost completely in front of the door. To come into the room proper, you’d have to go around the bed, like a maze. I think I even hung sheets down the door side sometimes.
  
  I had a little card table in here, and I’d build models sitting at it. For some reason, I built tanks and other war-oriented vehicles, from WWII. I thought I did a pretty good job with them, but thinking back on it they were probably horrible messes. Or, perhaps, I was as self-critical then as I am now, and that’s what I remember.
  
  Anyway. Now there’s blue carpeting and off-white paint on the walls, and a nice shelf over the window. There’s this lovely bed and the lovely antique chest of drawers, and the Edison phonograph I inherited from my grandfather but which hasn’t made it to Seattle. A small red wicker chair. Wooden blinds. Oh, and on the wall are some certificates that are part of the extended family history: two very elaborate marriage certificates, and another document. This other document is about a foot by two, and is printed in an outlandishly official-document sort of script. The printed script is right-handed, with blanks for various pieces of vital information, which have been filled in by hand. A left hand.
  
  

  
  Post Office Department
  
  George B. Cortelyou
  Postmaster General of the United States Of America,
  
  To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
  
  Whereas, on the 28th day of September, 1905, Isaiah J. Estopy was appointed Postmaster at Bard, in the County of Greene, State of Arkansas, and whereas he did on the 28th day of September, 1905, execute a Bond, and has taken the Oath of Office as required by Law:
  
  Now know ye, That confiding in the integrity, ability and punctuality of the said Isaiah J. Estopy, I do commission him a Postmaster, authorized to execute the duties of that Office at Bard aforesaid according to the laws of the United States and the Regulations of the Post Office Department: To hold the said Office of Postmaster, with all the powers, privileges, and emoluments to the same belonging, during the pleasure of the Postmaster General of the United States.
  
  In testimony wherof I have here unto set my hand, and caused the seal of the Post Office Department to be affixed, at Washington City, this twenty eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and five, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and thirtieth.
  
  F. H. Hitchcock
  Postmaster General
  (Seal affixed)
  

  
  It’s so charmingly bureaucratic.
  
  The other wall has woodcuts my sister did in junior high school. They’re printed on paper which has faded with time.
  
  1905 to 2002, we’re all here in my parents’ guest room.

  • 1:38 am
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