Last year, I moved to Spring Valley, Northwest Washington, D.C.
Before moving in, I never knew the neighborhood. I didn’t want to live in D.C. because I needed to be a better driver; driving in D.C. was difficult. So many circles and one-way streets also made me confused and crazy. I had an accident in one of the circles, and until now, I still don’t know what happened. Who should be responsible for the accident? Even though I passed through there many times after the accident occurred, I still can’t figure it out.
What can I do? I found my life partner, my love, who lives here at Spring Valley in Washington, D.C.
I forgot who said, “Where you have love, there will be your home.” So, I followed my heart and moved to Spring Valley!
As time passed, I began to like Spring Valley more and more.
In Spring Valley, a group of people who work hard and love life. They take good care of their house and garden. They make the neighborhood, like its name, a spring valley. All year is in spring. Here, you could see colorful flowers and green lawns; you could see squirrels jumping trees; you could hear birds singing.
We would see a deer family walk in our backyard, rabbits run through the grass, foxes calmly and relaxedly walk across the street, Woodpeckers beat the trees like drummers, and the crows are like gossip, talking about their neighbors.
Spring Valley builds, or houses, are bigger to smaller as you go from south to north. However, they have different shapes and ages; they are always located among flowers and under the shade of trees.
Victorian architecture includes houses with high gables and roofs, protruding leaves, and spindle-shaped or fan-shaped arches; even though they are not bright and ornate, we can still see the beauty they once were.
Also, there are light, lively, fresh, and bright French-style houses and other houses with harmony and simplicity, especially the pillars, which add to the building’s solemnity and clear layout; they are ancient Greek architecture.
I also like rustic farmhouse-style houses that look austere; when I am old, I should live in such a house because it usually has only one level.
Some of those houses’ front doors had national flags from other countries, so we knew the owner must have come from another country.
These houses of different styles and national flags of various countries are harmoniously
integrated with Spring Valley’s neighborhood.
Bailey, my dog, and I walk in the neighborhood daily. We enjoy the sound of birds singing and the fragrance of flowers. We would have liked to see these old houses if Sandy had been with us that day. We would point to one or two of the best houses.
My favorite house usually has flowers or lawns and stands under big trees. The most important thing is that its wall must be stone; I feel that only in that way would the house be like in a fairy tale.
I often feel like we’re living in a fairy tale because there are many flowers, grass, squirrels, rabbets, dears, and a lovely old house. Maybe Little Red Riding Hood would come out from the house; if it was nighttime, and the house had a beautiful warm light, I would imagine the Seven Dwarfs were inside drinking hot soup that Snow White made for them. Still, if the house is dark or has more astonishing lighting, I would feel that Snow White’s stepmother lives there, or a witch would jump out.
Spring Valley is a beautiful community. It is clean, peaceful, and safe. Of course, Spring Valley does have a few shortcomings.
Many houses still need a garage because the neighborhood was built long ago. So residents have to park their cars on the street, all the wires are up in the air, and all of these damage our scenery, but we can do nothing.
Another problem is that many seniors live alone in Spring Valley. Their lives are complex, and they need more help. But they are wary of strangers, So I hope there is an organization that can help them.
I wish the world were warmer.
Since I came to America from China, many kind people have helped me. I want to pass on this kindness and love forever.
I hope that when I get old, there will be people who care for me. So, I want to find a volunteer organization that helps care for seniors.
One more problem: Spring Valley is still beautiful and elegant, looking dignified, like a peaceful and lovely lady.
Unfortunately, Spring Valley is an excellent place to live, so its land is expensive. So real estate developers are trying to buy those beautiful fairy tale houses to dismantle and rebuild big houses. The homes that have been rebuilt are modern and extensive, but they are featureless. We call them big boxes. They stand there, completely unable to integrate with the community’s landscape. If such boxes are rebuilt more and more, our fairy tale world will disappear.
Our animal neighbors will lose their homes, White Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Witch will also disappear.
Anyway, I still love Spring Valley because it is my home.
