 One big plus is that it makes fireplaces a reasonable addition to
our lives. In cold weather, we can build a fire in our home with a
clear conscience. This is something that doesn't translate well to
summer heat, but when it's cold, here comes the fire.Strange,
isn't it, our love affair with a fireplace? Makes absolutely no
sense. Today, we can make houses so impervious to cold that every
time we light a candle, the temperature goes up 10 degrees. So what
do we do? We cut a hole in this sealed anti-cold unit so we can sit
and look at the flames, the way our ancestors have done since they
learned to walk upright and invented kindling.
But we don't care. We'll spend a lot of extra money to buy a
house with a fireplace and not think a thing about it. Because this
fireplace is the spiritual center of a home, as it has always been.
It's the gathering place. It's the place to read, to learn, to meet
and tell stories. It's the core of our universe. The fireplace --
and those waiting for us there -- is what we dream about when we're
miles from home in the woods or desert. It warms us, inside and out,
sometimes cooks our food, and answers our questions.
[to top of second
column] |
Questions? Sure.
When the fire's burning low, and you can just see the little blue
lick 'em flames curling around the glowing embers late at night, and
when we've about talked out the day's adventures, we can look at
those embers and find answers to questions we didn't even know we
had.
And we feel sorry for people who don't have these advantages.
[Text from file received from Slim Randles]
Brought to you by "Sun Dog Days," Slim's
latest novel. Available at
www.slimrandles.com.
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