Street Window

Summary

The author reflects on the mundane yet comforting scenes observed through their window during lockdown, drawing parallels to the movie "Rear Window" and finding solace in the ordinary life continuing outside.

Abstract

Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window," the author describes their own experience of observing life through a street window during the 2020 lockdown. They note the contrast between the vibrant scenes of the movie and the quieter, yet still active, street life outside their home. The narrative touches on the closure of local businesses, the essential services that continue to operate, and the daily routines of neighbors and wildlife. The author finds a connection with their parent's cat, who also enjoys the view from a window, and muses on the calming effect of watching raindrops on the glass. The window serves as a metaphorical portal to both the outside world and to introspection, prompting the author to ponder on the deeper meanings and personal memories that windows can evoke.

Opinions

The author expresses a fondness for Hitchcock's films, particularly "Rear Window," which sets the tone for their own reflections.
There is a sense of nostalgia and longing for normalcy in the author's observations of the old hotel restaurant's closure and the grocery store's continued operation.
The author seems to appreciate the small pleasures in life, such as good bread and pastries from the local bakery and the sight of wood pigeons kissing on a rooftop.
The old man doing his crossword puzzle is seen as a figure of resilience and routine amidst the changes brought about by the lockdown.
The author laments the reduced traffic but also finds it insufficient, indicating a desire for a more significant decrease in urban activity.
The window is personified as a source of comfort and contemplation, offering a serene view that contrasts with the chaos of the pandemic.
The author's interaction with their parent's cat reveals a tender and empathetic side, reflecting on the simple joys and shared experiences between species.
The sound of rain on the window is described with a sense of romance and tranquility, suggesting the author finds beauty and peace in such moments.
The author invites readers to reflect on their own experiences, asking what others see through their windows and what memories or thoughts these views might trigger.

I never thought I would write a story about windows, and yet it happened

Rear Window. Alfred Hitchcock. 1954. Grace Kelly. James Stewart. I loved that movie, one of my favorites from Hitchcock with North by Northwest and Rope.

Street window. 2020. Me and me alone. The lockdown. Sitting at my desk, I look out my window, looking for some signs that life goes on out there despite our forced retirement.

No murder in sight, but life goes on despite the measures put in place by the government. Across the street, the old hotel restaurant with its dilapidated front door is closed. At the corner of the alley, the small grocery store considered an essential business is open almost every day and sells alcohol to red-faced regulars.

A little further to the left up the main street, one of the best bakeries in my area allows me to taste good bread and succulent pastries almost every day. On one of the roofs opposite, wood pigeons seem inseparable and kiss for a long time.

Leaning on a window sill to the right of the hotel restaurant, an old man with greying hair and badly dressed is doing his crossword puzzle and from time to time leaves his newspaper to look at passers-by or bring his beer can to his mouth.

The incessant stream of cars going up the street seems to have lightened, but not enough for my taste. My eyes leave the window to return to my computer screen. Tonight, my gaze will turn to the pages of my book, another window to a world far away from mine.

I think back to one of my parents’ two cats, which I also consider to be mine since I lived with them for several years at the very beginning of their lives. I still have in mind this image of the female, an adorable little tiger cat. She is sitting on the wooden furniture, just in front of the window that opens onto the yard in front of our old house.

The leaves of the potted plant (I don’t remember the name) on the furniture tickle her ears. The sun’s rays warm her coat and she looks at the birds in the Virginia creeper that climbs up the side of the house. I know she is fine, and seeing her like this moves me very much. I wonder what’s going through her mind, and I can’t help but come and stroke his head and scratch her neck.

When the rain hits my window and the drops of water run down the glass, a feeling of calmness invades me. There is something romantic in the sound of the rain and this painting of glass and water. A scene conducive to elevation and reverie that I never tire of.

I never thought I would write a story about windows, and yet it happened. What do you see through your windows? What do they remind you of?