She Sits Still

Words that describe San Diego: Character, personality, variety. The Featured Image and companions are examples. This charming display is more elaborate and expansive than the photos reveal. The property sits at Howard and Hamilton in North Park.

But change is afoot. Recent public policy push to add more residences—by way of so-called Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and high-rises, often where were single-family homes—transforms the look and feel of many neighborhoods. BLVD North Park and Winslow are examples of the new architectural artifices.

I’d like to think that grandma’s ghost sits in the chair and haunts the block. Better: That she goes all poltergeist on anyone messing with her home or those nearby. Construction workers are lucky that granny’s chair faces away from the big building project a few blocks West across Texas Street. Nobody messes with grandma—or is that gradma, as the sign reads?

I am confused. You? Did someone misspell gran’s name, or is gradma culturally correct for some demographic? Either way, the missing “n” fits with the aforementioned character and personality of some San Diego homes. I do hope that grandma ghost isn’t a bit testy about the sign. Please, somebody, don’t make her angry.

Okay, let’s talk photos. The entire set comes from Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on March 26, 2024. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/160 sec, 115mm (film equivalent); 1:35 p.m. PDT. Second: f/1.7, ISO 12, 1/460 sec, 1:35 p.m. Third is same but 1/580 sec and one-minute later. The last is same as the previous by 1/210 sec. The entire set was shot using the smartphone’s 50-megapixel setting.