I have often walked down this street before;
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
from the song "On the Street Where She Lives"
The street where we live is changing. We live adjacent to citrus groves and we enjoy the luxury of a small neighborhood, rare traffic, and quiet nights. Our summer nights stay 10-15 degrees cooler because we don't have the summer heat island that burns after dark. In spring we suffer the lovely fragrant of orange and grapefruit blossoms. And around the corner, we pass two local citrus stands that operate all spring, selling freshly picked fruit.
But now the orchards have been sold.
Houses are to be the next crop planted.
The citrus trees are being pulled out by their roots, destroyed and removed from site.
We are well aware that 45 years ago, the plot our house sits on was either part of the groves or on the road leading into it.
Surely someone once grieved the loss of the trees.
Surely someone once grieved the loss of the trees.
The citrus processing plants in town are closing.
The land has been sold.
Developers hope the housing economy has turned and new houses are needed.
The land has been sold.
Developers hope the housing economy has turned and new houses are needed.
Our hands our tied from this point on.
Our hearts are heavy.
Our hopes were once higher...
for the street where we live. The irony hits us hard, too.
