Back Alley . . . Or Another World?

Have you ever noticed how different a back alley looks compared to the street running parallel to it? Back alleys always amaze me. You can know a street very well, but if you drive down its back alley, it is like seeing a whole different world! Homeowners' back yards are often so different than their front yards! A homeowner with a very plain front yard might have a beautifully landscaped back yard with flowers, trees and ponds. On the other hand, someone with a very showy front yard may have a very plain back yard. On one particular street which I have recently become familiar with, is a beautiful house with cedar siding and a lovely flower-filled front yard. I commented to my husband once that the owners do a great job of keeping the cedar maintained and obviously spend a lot of time maintaining their home and their yard. Some time later, I found myself in the back alley. Much to my surprise and dismay, their back yard is a mess! The owners obviously upkeep the front and a portion of the sides of their house, but the back of the house and the last half of the sides are weathered and badly in need of TLC. Their back yard has no plants or flowers at all. I actually drove around the block to make sure it was the same house. What a difference between their front yard and back yard! By driving down back alleys, you get a glimpse of people's lives - their true lives, not the "for company" side that is displayed in the front yard. In a back yard are the "pieces" that make up the lives of the owners, while the front yard is usually more generic. Most times, the front and back yards just don't "match" and it can be difficult to believe that you are at the same property. It often feels as if you are in an entirely different place, or perhaps a parallel universe! Enjoying the mysteries and uniqueness of back alleys . . . it's a good thing!