Fences are interesting. They are used to keep people or animals out or in. Sometimes their purpose is to define someone’s property line. They can be pieces of beauty or made for privacy. There has been such a fascination with fences that poets have written about them. Some of the most beautiful landscape scenes have a fences tastefully placed to balance the picture.
When we moved into our neighborhood there weren’t any fences. No one seemed to mind that the exact property line wasn’t marked. Children and animals roamed freely between yards.
Over time fences started to go up in the neighborhood. The first fence was to wall off a swimming pool. It was a beautiful pool with an even more beautiful fence. Next an older couple put up a fence to contain their dogs. Once the rabbits population realized the dogs couldn’t get out they enjoyed teasing the dogs by running in and out of the fence.
Two of the neighbors got into a fight and suddenly more yards were fenced. One day I looked out and there were only 2 yards that didn’t have a fence, ours and the neighbor to our left. Children still run through the two yards. It is a great place to play hide-and-seek. Basketballs or soccer balls bounce and roll through the grass always followed closely behind by a child. We still hear laughter and it is enjoyable to go out and talk to our neighbor.
Fences are nice. They have a wonderful purpose. They also wall off a family from the rest of their neighbors. I have wondered at times why we enjoy stopping to talk to the neighbor to the left and don’t seem to see the other neighbors as much. Maybe it is what the fence represents in the neighborhood.
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