The Fence

 My house sits in the valley between two steep hills. It's red brick with a stone retaining wall that adorns the front yard. My poor, sad mailbox sits near the edge of the street and has been hit by cars so many times I have lost count.  My driveway is steep and troublesome for new drivers and delivery drivers alike. A the top of the driveway, there is a concert pad littered with garbage cans and a long-forgotten basketball hoop.  Beyond this pad is the haphazard fence - some new parts, some old parts, some shortboards, and some longboards.

This fence has enclosed my children when they were young.  He has withstood their baseballs and lacrosse balls.  He has withstood the test of corn hole, airsoft, tag, and the brief bow and arrow faze.  The fence has seen countless kids - and dogs - jump on the well-worn trampoline. The fence has stood as a barrier between my yard and my neighbors. 

The wood fence is pretty old.  His age is showing in the quickness that the boards break, in the bow of its boards, and the color of his wood. This poor fence has boards that face both directions depending on the laziness of the teenager that had to replace its parts. In various places, there are two boards in one spot... an overlapping design to contain the dogs. 

See the dogs are smart and they know the fence is old.  They have tested their snots against his weakness and won EVERYTIME.  The neighbor dog - a large black Doberman - realized early on the fence was weak and has broken many boards from her side of the fence.  Many times she can be spotted roaming through my back yard, looking for balls or eating grass.  Just as many times, my dogs can be seen running through the neighbor's yard and peaking in their backdoor.  

The poor fence is tired.  He has put up a valiant fight to protect the border of my yard.  Sadly, over time he will be replaced with newer, stronger boards that will begin their own journey.  The new boards will stand as a testament to what came before and forge his path in the lives of my family and those that come after us. Until that time, I will appreciate the fence that stands now and all that he has witnessed.