Last week the plumber came to my house to fix an outdoor faucet that was leaking. He told me that if things went well, he would be able to do it from the outside. It did not go well. The faucet was over 30 years old and had seized up.
We thought he would have to cut a hole in the drywall of my finished basement. But first he started looking around. Could he go through the closet? That would not work.
Was there another way. Also, he wondered how they could put both water and gas pipes on the without some sort of an access. He continued to searched around.
Finally he pointed to what I thought was an air conditioner exchange during our five years in this house. “What’s that?” he questioned. He started moving some furniture away from the wall. Then said, “I might have to unscrew it to see what’s behind it.”
But he did not have to unscrew anything. That air conditioner vent was hinged and held closed by a spring. When he opened this ‘door’, there was a crawl space with access to all the pipes. There was even a light switch and a working light.
As he opened it, I was excited! My first words were, “Wow, I have a secret room!” I always wanted a secret room. Friends of mine had a hidden door that looked like a bookcase. When you opened it, you were in the room with a dome and telescope. I always wanted a secret hideaway. Now I had one.
In the meantime, the plumber was able to quickly fix my faucet issue, including replacing the old water turn off valve in this crawl space.
After he left, I started thinking about my secret space. It is a great spot for hiding. No one knows it is there. It looks just like a vent for the air conditioner. With furniture in front of the lower part of it, no one would never think it was larger than a normal air vent. It is in a very good place for a secret space. There is a closet in front of it. Anyone who opens it would think went to the end of the house. Staircases enclose it. There is a solid wall on one side, and the outside walls on two sides, with just this tiny door to get in.
It even had lighting. It was insulated. And although you cannot stand up in it. Three or four people could comfortably sit inside. It made me think of the secret annex that Anne Frank and her family lived it. Wait, why did my mind go there?
Then it hit me, that I was actually thinking that this is a place where I can hide my family if needed. I have never ever felt that way before. But in the past 18 months as the Jew Hatred seems to grow, and the craziness builds, it was a thought that has stayed in my mind. What would we do if people really went crazy? I believe I am safe. I know I have great neighbors and friends. But then my family in Poland felt the same way before their property was confiscated and they were murdered.
I know it is not March 3, 1942, when all the remaining Jews of the area my great grandparents lived in were rounded up. Less than 100 Jews survived from over 5,000 who lived there. My family included two of these survivors. I knew them. I also know of many who died.
Honestly, would I ever have to use this secret room to hide out from those who want to do evil? I think not. But there is just this teeny bit of doubt that makes me feel sad for the world.
I would rather hold on to the feeling of excitement for a secret crawl space. I would rather focus on a discovery saved much time and money in fixing a pipe and gave me the joy of discovery something new about my home.
I am praying for our country and the world that sanity will prevail, fear will dissipate, and hate will disappear.
zicharonot 