ONE MAN'S TAKE ON THE DECORATORS' SHOW HOUSE

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted December 6, 2004)

Last Friday, I accompanied my wife on a tour of the Decorators' Show House...... and here's my story.

The Show House was an old Nashville estate, nestled on a hill off Post Road.

The Show House has become a local tradition, sponsored by the Junior League of Nashville.... and they always do an impressive job.

Every year, they pick a different house -- and an army of designers, decorators, landscapers, artists and others, transform the home into something magical.

And every year, Karen makes sure I don't miss it.

This time, after coming to terms with the fact that I was paying $40 for the two of us to walk through a house, I relaxed - ready to enjoy the tour.

Seeing all the designs and furnishings gave me lots to think about..... not anything I'm apt to actually do, but lots to think about.

Then, about 20 minutes into our tour, a strange awareness began to settle over me.

Everybody there was a woman. With the exception of my own reflection in the mirrors, every single face I saw was that of a woman..... everybody.

From the time we entered the front door, until we left through the back, and even through the big tent called Holiday Marketplace, I never saw another man..... not one.

I was beginning to experience the kind of clumsy discomfort a man feels when he accidentally enters the lady's room in a public place.
Had I missed something in the rules?
Had I somehow slipped into the Twilight Zone?

As we walked back to the front of the house, I was struck by the spectacular view from the house.
A small river runs through the property, about 90 yards down from the house.
And about 75 yards beyond the river there's a train track, and -- as though on cue -- a freight train came rumbling by.

And then.... there.... standing in the driveway, I saw another man. Could it be? Would he turn and reveal the face of Rod Serling?

No, it was just a guy, watching the train and the river.

And while I have no way of knowing for sure, I believe I detected in his face a sense of relief when he saw me.... a man..... standing there.

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