#72
I spent 18 years living in this house. I moved into it with Jay Davis in 1978. I remember that first week; we'd moved from Marlboro, Vt. and I hadn't heard highway noises or sirens or other in town music since I'd left Wilton. I felt like I had moved to some foreign land with a Grand Union across the street and a Wendy's next door. The first night we slept there it was cold and we built a fire in the old coal stove and I put a mattress out in front of it and slept there. A couple nights later Jay went off to Maine for a couple days and I was alone and scared stiff. I realized I had to learn how to sleep with street lights around me by myself. Of course soon we befriended the upstairs neighbors and I wasn't so alone for many years afterwards. I bought that house in 1984. It was the home of the great idea. A lot of people were nurtured there and much care was given to us by the house, but little care was given to the house because I never had enough money to fix stuff. My family fixed some stuff, my friends fixed some stuff, but basically by the time I sold it in 1996 it needed a lot of help. I raised two dogs in that house, and an awful lot of nephews and nieces used it as a home away from home.
The last few months I was alone in it. No one lived upstairs. That was spooky. But now it is well taken care of and tonight it looked beautiful; I got to remember those beautiful skies that embraced it in the evenings. (Actually the best thing about the house was its front row seats to any parade during the year.)
I have a cold. I went and ate pizza anyway. I just needed pizza tonight. Actually I needed it last night, but had managed to avoid it. Didn't succeed tonight. I ate pizza with a cold.
I also feel like I fell in love with the sky tonight. It was so dramatic. No witch flew by, though, no concrete signs of Friday the 13th.
5 years ago today Annie and I helped my mother give away all of her orchestra dresses. She also gave Annie all of her leftover materials. We cleaned out her sewing trunk and her professional gowns. I remember it was a gloomy rainy day, but we got home before any roads froze up.
I love that house so much! It looks so pretty with its new red trim. So many of my happy childhood memories took place there.
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing ow much it meant to how many different people. I was remembering having you for Winter vacations. You were a great companion. Love you.
ReplyDeleteSo many memories in that house. I slept in every room in that downstairs apartment except the bathroom...crazy Saturday night goings on at Wendy's and Friday night to Sunday night D & D sessions! And the sweet sweet memory of sweet sweet Jean Whiton! Love you all around the universe!
Annie Q.
Grace Dawn I loved that house...it was magical. Although sleeping there was a little scary, especially with the African masks on the walls. I loved spending holidays there. It always had room for everyone. And yes, the best seat in the house for parades!