Loss of magic

There was a house in Camarillo my children dubbed the Angel House. I referred to it as the "Great Expectations" house. It stood out like a pink Cadillac. The house was magical and perplexing at the same time. The exterior was white with grand columns and balconies. Statues adorned the house and fence and the detail of the leaded glass windows was superlative. The rumored trapeze in the backyard led me to believe that, indeed, this house was very special.

The house was a great novel; you were captivated and couldn't wait to turn the page. Each time we would take a neighborhood walk by the home, I would take my time, examining the intrinsic details of the Angel house.

The house reminded me of my childhood and the possibility of grand dreams. Looking at the home through my children's eyes meant staring upon a stately palace. I, too, could see the palace.

June 29, the Angel house burned to the ground. I never knew the owners of the house, but I did know that they were dreamers and looked at the world through the eyes of a child. I am deeply sorry for their loss, and am sad for the loss of magic in the hills of Camarillo.

— Wendy Ropes, Camarillo

God bless neighbors

Re: your July 1 article, "Decor gave burnt house its character":

It was a tragedy to watch someone's life work burn to cinders. Although I did not know my neighbor personally, everybody in the area knew of this house for its many Greek statues placed around the yard and the stained glass windows that greeted your eyes.

Many had opinions about it. It stood out in our Camarillo Heights neighborhood. To me and my family, that's what makes our neighborhood special. My sons and nephew were away when the fire happened, but they cried when I told them the news. Kids loved this house, in the same way they love the "Rainbow House" down the street, which is painted in an array of colors.

Interestingly, artists both live in these homes. The owner of the "Statue House" was a clay artist. She handmade the many statues that adorned her walls. She and her husband labored on and loved the house.

When we are littered with cement jungles of tract housing and strip malls, when one car looks so much like all others and Gestapo homeowners associations stamp out any form of individuality in most neighborhoods, I embraced what they and their home stood for. If a person chooses the safety of sameness, that is his choice. My family chose to live in a place where we may often not understand what moves someone to be so outwardly ornate, but we love and embrace our neighbors and neighborhood for what they stand for — freedom of expression.

God bless our neighbor for her losses — her home, her husband who passed away last year and all the loving work that went into their home.

Her work touched many.

If all the children loved her home, she knows she's done well by their imaginations.

— Michelle Soto de Carvalho, Camarillo