In which The Gay Recluse considers a southern exposure.

Admittedly, we have often cursed the apartment buildings that face the southern side of our garden. In addition to casting a shadow, they are sometimes the source of crushingly loud (and bad) music and garbage thrown from their windows. Also, it’s hard to escape the feeling of being watched at all times (except of course when we’re hidden under our bamboo).

Yet there are moments when we appreciate them; when we look up and understand that we could have seen these same clothes drying in the air 50 or 100 or 200 years ago.

Temporarily blinded by the iconic quality of this urban vista, we forget how much we hate them.