“The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir” by Dee Williams
Dee Williams has been fascinated by building since childhood. In 2003 she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. As she rethought her life, she experienced a “clothespin moment.” As she contemplated one perfect clothespin, she envisioned its creation from tree through mill, from ore to wire, and finally to herself pinning clothes on the line. Within a month, she read an article about a tiny house. She thought of building a tiny home, eighty four square feet, thirteen and a half feet tall and eight and a half feet wide. But could she do it? She considered her health, her skills, her money, her time. And then she thought it would be the “greatest adventure a girl could have.” And that was that.
Consider contradiction and complication. Consider expansion and contraction. Consider contemplation and action. Consider a big house and a tiny life. Then consider a tiny house and a big life.
While Williams writes of building a tiny house, she also chronicles building a new life. First a home that fit her and then a life that fit her. Second a home where she fell asleep but did not sleep through her life. Third a home free of stuff but full of curiosity, simplicity, and vitality.
Thoreau advised one to “simplify, simplify” but cautioned one to do it their own way. Williams took his advice.
–
