A Rare Happiness

I’m not given to superstition, “faith-based” whims, nor do I put much stock in things like karma or other metaphysical mumbo-jumbo — as I’m sure you’re aware if you’ve read this blog at all.
But the other day when I sat in the backyard of the house I’m buying, hummingbirds were flitting about over my head, buzzing like bees. It reminded me of my grandmother’s backyard here in San Jose.
The Hispanic Catholic side of my family heritage began to assert itself — the failed attempts to buy other places and the sudden quick success with this house, at a lower price… this was obviously the result of my grandparents’ intervention. Lita and Lito looking down and manipulating events. Lita represented by the hummingbirds, Lito by the gardening.
Today I once again went over to the house for an inspection that I commissioned. I waited patiently for the bad news, knowing that something huge would rear its ugly head forcing me to call the whole thing off… things were pointed out: there should be a tool hanging by the gas cut-off in case of earthquake. The water cut off valve might need to be replaced. The ivy covering the garage in the backyard can hurt the wood.
But what about the foundation? What about the roof? When is the house going to fall over?
Nothing wrong with the original 1937 foundation. Roof in good shape. Garage in good shape. Nothing is about to fall over, blow up, or catch fire.
I was flabbergasted. Even the first house I bid on whose owners wanted $630,000 was riddled with inspection problems. This house? Clean.
And the hummingbirds smiled to themselves and flittered around the flowers.