Tess, Julie, Holland, and Vic
It always brings back memories being in her parents house. I learned to spend the night away from home at her house. Once things settled down for the night, I always wanted my mama. Looking out the great big window in Julie's room, you could see the lights of town, which always reminded me of going shopping with my mama (sniff)! They would either carry me home or mom would come get me. Then one night (middle of the night), I went up to Dr. and Mrs. H's room to tell them I wanted to go home, but they offered me the spot between them in bed. I tried it and I was able to sleep all night! Of course Julie and the other girls at the slumber party thought I had been kidnapped, but all was well when they found me curled up in Julie's parents bed. By the way, Dr. H was my dentist and he always loved telling that story when he had his hands in my mouth and I couldn't defend myself! :) Of course their house also reminds me of the fun times we had in high school too -- Anybody remember GNO?
Holly, Julie and I standing in front of said window.
I got to drive by my old house too. OH THE MEMORIES!!! Can I just show you a picture of it now? It was not baby blue when we lived there! My room was upstairs, second window from the left. I had a tiny room, but I have forgiven my parents. I guess I could have eventually moved to the bedroom downstairs, but seeing as I wouldn't walk down there at night by myself, I don't think it would have worked out anyway. My first memories are of the yellow floral wallpaper in that room. I don't remember any of the houses we lived in before this one.
Below is a picture of the first house that Dustin and I bought... After we did the vinyl siding it looked very similar to my childhood home. I can't find a good enough picture. There was a tree right in front of the house, so all you see is tree. Maybe you can get the idea.
Why did my sister and I always run from the car to the front door? Were we racing? I don't think so, because as long as I can remember I ran from the car to the front door.
We took in the garage, added a garage (which we never parked in) and the pool. I remember "helping" my dad put the roof on the new addition. As an adult looking back on that project, it was huge! I took it for granted back then.
After it was completed, we could start running in my dad's den and run into the "rec room" and do a round-off or round-off back hand-spring. I remember many a night of practicing cheerleading in that room. My dad had a hat collection - baseball hats that people gave him or he bought. He had enough to go around the room 2 or 3 times, I think. I will have to find a picture!!
Ok, so they went around FOUR TIMES!? And my mom allowed this??
We played Atari for hours in that room! Also in that room, Holly stuck a pair of tweezers in an electrical socket while working on her bug collection project in 8th grade.
I remember planting potatoes (among other things) in our garden. Digging them up was the best part. We also had a peach tree. One time Holly and I found a bat hanging upside down in it!
We had an empty lot on either side of our house the whole time we lived there. Just a few years ago, someone built the house to the right. We had a well-defined bike trail through that empty lot - along with a "fort". Good times. Good times.
A neighbor down the street had several black Labradors that barked at and chased us when we rode our bikes (yellow with a banana seat) down the hill. I would go up and around the block to get to my friend's house that lived across the street. They scared me! Probably one of the reasons I am not a big fan of dogs to this day.
We had a tire swing in the back. We had trees in our yard!
I can still hear the crickets and frogs chirping and mom calling me in for supper -- fried shrimp or homemade chicken fingers or steak, mashed potatoes, English peas, butter beans, baked BBQ chicken (with the skin on- which everyone gave to me, b/c I LIKED IT!?) or maybe some homemade pizza! I can't leave out the shrimp gumbo or the vegetable soup! Ymmm!
Sorry for the trip down memory lane; I enjoyed it.
Back to the current trip...
We spent some time on the lake at Holly's in-laws home (Grandmama and Daddy D). Daddy D had great fun trying to sling children off the tubes behind the boat. Being on that lake brought back memories too. It is the best lake ever! The kids had a blast and want to go back again. Look out, Daddy D and Grandmama!
We got to go to First Sunday on Monday (held over due to Labor Day). I like to describe First Sunday as follows: On the first Sunday of every month, people bring their junk, antiques, and crafts to the square to sell. The kids loved it! I bought them each a bag of roasted peanuts and a lemonade... they were set. Julie would not have recognized them sitting still on the curb peeling and eating peanuts. (Reagan was peeling them for Granny and me.) Anyway, I was able to purchase a gift for someone.... not telling who. And Mrs. S bought this bean pot for me. My Grandma H had this cookie jar when I was a kid and Mrs. S thought I should definitely have it! I love it. Thanks again, Mrs. S!
