2632

It's 1:30 a.m. and as I make my way home from a friend's house, I'm struck, as I always am when I travel at this hour, how peaceful and calm the city streets seem in the darkness. I pull up to a red light, beside another car presumably on it's way home as well. We sit at the light for approximately 45 seconds before a cop car pulls up directly in front of us, blocking either of us from proceeding. The officer parks the car and my heart starts to race. The peaceful, calm streets have turned suspicious and unpredictable in a manner of seconds. At the exact same time, myself and the passengers in the neighboring car look over at each other, as if to say, "What did you do?" We share a bewildered look and an assurance is passed between us that neither of us is a criminal. We're in the same clueless boat.

I begin to look around to find the reason we're being detained and I notice flashing orange lights coming towards the intersection from the left. Two or three trucks slowly pass in front of us, and then comes the main attraction. A house.

An entire house passes in front of us, slowly, as if being carried by a cloud. The house has a mailbox, a front door, even a house number. The moment is surreal and amazing. I feel like I'm in a strange house transporting dream. Peace is restored to the streets and to my heart as I take in this sight. It feels differently from when I have seen houses bring transported on the highway. Those houses lumbered down the road, inconveniencing or frightening those around them. This house is graceful somehow. The street lights gently cast a faint glow on what will be someone's home as it leisurely makes it's way through the intersection, continuing on it's way.

The police officer starts up his car and pulls away once the house is at a safe distance. The light turns green and I smile as I slowly pull away from such a strange late night experience.

Over the years, I have often thought of that house. It's house number is up on my wall. I'm not sure why that experience struck me or stuck with me like it has. However, I do know that whenever I look at those numbers and I recall that night, a sense of calm comes over me and my often scattered mind takes a deep breath. So, for that, 2632, I thank you.