Over the holiday weekend, one of my colleagues was looking through the archives of the monthly contests on Redecorate.com. Since the World Cup Soccer games and South Africa have captivated us recently, this morning she brought one of the winning entries to my attention which was written by Romy Gishen of Johannesburg in July, 2005. I thought you might enjoy reading it, too:

What do you see when you look through your windows?

I see beautiful, sad and needy Africa.

I see barbed wire, a security guard with a loaded gun waiting for crime, waiting for something to happen.

And when nothing does, the fences blur into blue shiny African skies, warm colours that fill the air with strength and beauty.

I see an African sunset disappear below the window and rise each day with a new sense of freedom and abandon.

I see hope, energy, life and love.