This Old House

The ceiling in the kitchen after removing the old track lighting.

This old house

has no standards,

no built-to codes,

no protection from

shocking yourself.

Nothing is quite square
nor level.

Wires are hidden,

connected to

unexpected circuits.

Not designed

nor planned,

but grown,

a random add-on,

a strange mutation.

The old track light rusted.

Dead beetles hid

behind the halogen bulbs

that warmed the kitchen.

It had to come down.

Track lights have four screws---

two to the junction box,

one at each end.

Almost as easy as

changing a bulb.

But there was no box.

No ground wire.

A hole in the dry wall,

hot wires poking through.

Better recheck the circuit.

The new LEDs

burn cool.

The fixture?

Clean for now.

That'll do

At my father's funeral when I was 19, a good friend played one of Dad's favorite songs, This Old House.  Dad had gotten the sheet music so that I could play it for him on the piano.  A video is here.  Below are the lyrics from here:

[Verse 1]

This old house once knew my children

This old house once knew my wife

This old house was home and comfort

As we fought the storms of life

This old house once rang with laughter

This old house heard many shouts

Now she trembles in the darkness

When the lightnin' walks about

[Chorus]

Ain’t gonna need this house no longer

Ain't gonna need this house no more

Ain't got time to fix the shingles

Ain’t got time to fix the floor

Ain't got time to oil the hinges

Nor to mend the window-pane

Ain't gonna need this house no longer

I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints

[Verse 2]

This old house is a-gettin' shaky

This old house is a-gettin' old

This old house lets in the rain

This old house lets in the cold

Oh my knees are gettin' chilly

But I feel no fear or pain

’Cause I see an angel peekin’

Through a broken window-pane

[Chorus]

Ain't gonna need this house no longer

Ain’t gonna need this house no more

Ain't got time to fix the shingles

Ain't got time to fix the floor

Ain't got time to oil the hinges

Nor to mend the window-pane

Ain’t gonna need this house no longer

I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints

[Verse 3]

Now this old house is afraid of thunder

This old house is afraid of storms

This old house just groans and trembles

When the night wind flings its arms

This old house is a-gettin' feeble

This old house is a-needin' paint

Just like me, it's tuckered out

But I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints

[Chorus]

Ain't gonna need this house no longer

Ain't gonna need this house no more

Ain't got time to fix the shingles

Ain't got time to fix the floor

Ain't got time to oil the hinges

Nor to mend the window-pane

Ain't gonna need this house no longer

I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints

[Verse 4]

Now my old hound dog lies asleepin'

He don't know I'm gonna leave

Else he'd wake up by the fireplace

And he'd sit there and howl and grieve

But my huntin' days are over

Ain't gonna hunt the 'coon no more

Gabriel done brought in my chariot

When the wind blew down the door

[Chorus]

Ain't gonna need this house no longer

Ain't gonna need this house no more

Ain't got time to fix the shingles

Ain't got time to fix the floor

Ain't got time to oil the hinges

Nor to mend the window-pane

Ain't gonna need this house no longer

I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints

(Ready to meet the saints)