Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Memories of 1614 McKinley Avenue

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Growing up I had always hoped that one day I would inherit grandma's house.  I loved that house even though I was scared to death of the basement.  I spent a lot of my childhood there and thought that it would be mine someday.  Things do not always work out that way though and instead of living there when I grew up- I watched the house get sold.  Grandma moved into an apartment and then eventually a nursing home.  To this day I drive past her house and wish it was still in the family.MorseShirleyHouse19

After my parents' divorce I was babysat by my grandma on a regular basis while mom went to work at Robertson's Department Store.  I was going to the local Hebrew Day School and though it was neat getting to see my cousin Shellie every day in class I really did not like it there.  But getting to stay with Grandma on a regular basis was great.  I would come in the house to the foyer with tiny aqua and tan tiles on the floor and sniff in the familiar scent of her house.  Grandma taught me how to tap dance on that tiled floor. 

MorseShirleyHouse74She'd give me a big hug and kiss and we'd go hang out in the kitchen.  I would sit at the kitchen table with my coloring book and crayons and watch TV while Grandma would cook dinner.  Grandma and I would go for walks around the block in the evening after dinner. She would stop and chat with her friends in the neighborhood and I would sit quietly and listen to their gossip and stories. UppstromJana26By the time we got back to the house it was late and usually mom would be there to pick me up and take me home.

 

 

 

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After my parents divorce, the house became a trading point between my parents. Dad would come pick me up there and take me for the weekend.

 

 

 

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The living room was one of my favorite rooms to play in.  There was this cool kidney shaped desk that I used to pretend I was working in an office.  It also had a good hiding spot under it for those games of hide-and-seek.  Grandpa was usually sitting in his chair.   

 

 

 

MorseShirleyHouse50 I particularly liked to play the piano.   I loved playing songs from “Mary Poppins” and “Annie”.  I also remember learning the song, “On Top of Spaghetti”.  Grandma would eventually tell me, “That’s enough” and I’d go play in the basement.  Grandpa’s cancer was taking its toll and the plinking on the piano was not doing him any favors.

Sometimes I would go down into the basement and play with all the old toys that had accumulated there from my mom and her siblings and the many cousins.  I would play in the back yard and snack on raspberries off the bush against the fence.  I was always good at entertaining myself and could sit and color for hours.  Being at Grandma's house was always a peaceful place to be for me.

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There were many times that I slept over at Grandma's house. And I almost always slept in the bedroom with the bamboo wallpaper against the exterior wall of the house. She had all kinds of artwork on the walls from her many travels with my grandpa around the world. They kind of scared me, but I’d look at them every time. I would lay there watching the headlights from the road travel around the room till I fell asleep.

 

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When I would get up in the morning I was always trying to sneak downstairs without making a sound. I'd slide down the banister to minimize the sounds of the creaking steps. It's a miracle that I never hurt myself doing that. Once downstairs I'd help myself to whatever cookies grandma had on top of the refrigerator. Sometimes there were good ones like the chocolate covered graham cookies or Oreos. Other times there were just the chocolate covered marshmallow treats that I didn't care for. I'm sure I got my love for sweets from my grandma. Then I would have some cereal and sit down and watch the morning cartoons till the rest of the house awoke.

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When we would have big family gatherings it was at her house.  The adults would sit in the dining room at the big table and the kids would be in the kitchen at the table there.  Then we'd run off to go play in the basement some more.  We played hide and seek on a regular basis.  It still amazes me that grandma didn't get annoyed when we'd hide in her closets and cupboards and knock things off the hangers.  I had my favorite places to hide- the back of her bedroom closets, under beds, and in the scary basement.  MorseShirleyHouse130 My favorite hiding spot was behind the bar.  I was afraid of the basement for two reasons.   First of all, there was this weird air vent fan that was in the main room of the play area.  One time a bird had gotten stuck in there and while I was playing it flapped around a few times.  It startled me and for years after that I would stare at the vent intently making sure no birds were in there waiting to scare me again.  Secondly the basement had an area with wood paneling that hid the furnace and hot water heater.  This area had a panel that you could open to come out into the play area.  I was always a little scared that someone or something would pop out of the dark recesses to "get" me.

All in all, there were a lot of special, yet seemingly ordinary moments that I shared with my Grandma in that house.  Every time I travel past her house I tear up a bit at the thought that she’s no longer there.  But the house and the memories of family will always have a very special corner of my heart.

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8 comments:

Shelley Bishop said...

What wonderful memories of your grandmother and her house, Jennifer. I can tell you really cherish the times you spent with her. Great post!

Stephanie @ CornAndCotton.com said...

Oh, Jennifer! I think I'm going to tear up a little with you! It is so clear that your grandmother and her home had such a great impact on you. She's with you always in the woman that you've become, and that is even better than having her house. Love, lovely post.

Nancy said...

Jennifer, what a lovely tribute to your grandmother and the sweet memories you have of her and the time you spent in her home. Grandmothers always seem to have so much more time than mothers.

I'm impressed that you have so many photographs of your grandmother's house. I can see why you would have hoped it would come to you: it's a beautiful house! Maybe some day you can buy it back?

It was great to meet you last Saturday, too.

Jen A said...

Thanks ladies! My grandma was also the one who got me interested in our family's history. Her passing is a loss that I still feel.

Luckily mom took lots of pictures when they sold the house!

Anonymous said...

I used to love playing hide and seek there!! I dream sometimes about secret passages and mysterious places still unexplored at gmas house. It was nice seeing these pictures and remembering how the house looked. Thanks Jen!
love,
kait

Jen A said...

That's funny! I dream of secret passages and hidden compartments at her house too! I always wondered if there were secret family treasures hidden away somewhere. :-)

Jennifer Sepulvado said...

This is a great post! It makes me stop and realize that I shouldn't take it for granted that my grandparents' house is still in the family. My parents bought it from the rest of my mom's siblings and now lease it out to a family friend. My great-great-grandparents' house is still in the family as well, along with the 40 acres of land that the house sits on. My husband and I are thinking of building a house there, and I would like to start fixing up the house that is already there.

Jen A said...

Thanks Jennifer! I'm glad that you were able to keep your grandparents' home in the family. It's nice to have that connection to the past. Thanks for the comments!