In the space of time it took to take my morning meds and prepare my oatmeal yesterday, I overheard a variety of phrases and subjects coming from a conversation in the next room. It included the following:
The Peter Principle, Al Gore, Jamaica, political apocalypse, propaganda, ice caps, environmentalist, air quality, nuclear power, pushing an agenda, eagle’s habitats, electricity, wind farms, energy under the ocean, fault line, tsunami, Chernobyl, Russians, K19 Widowmaker, stem winder, inaugural cruise, main drive belt in mower, dropping the clutch, transmission update, common for this model, and rev that thing up and go to town.
Who were the two responsible for all those subjects? Nathan and Steve, that’s who.
I didn’t want to distract them, so I just took a picture of their legs — and the dogs. Give them two more hours, and they could have added a hundred things to that list. The only thing that didn’t appear on the list above (which usually does) was philosophy and theology. If Gage had been there, the list would have been twice as long.
Nathan was staying overnight with us so Steve could take him to the airport Sunday morning to join Meagan and the kids in Florida for two weeks of vacation.
In the meantime, I got to cook breakfast for him . . .
and enjoy seeing his sandals stacked by the chair, announcing he was back home. The best view.
I often think of how comforting it must be for Nathan to be still able to come through the same front door he entered as a 3-day-old. (Try not to be too jealous of his mother’s hairdo.)
For those who don’t know the story, Nathan came home (to Ken and Vernie’s house) one day, and Hurricane Hugo arrived the next day. We were without power for 10 days. There’s a whole long story there, but that’s the gist of it. He was exceedingly brave and made it through the storm.
This picture was taken near the same spot where his sandals were sitting.
On the couch in the den.
And a few years later, Sarah joined the family; in this photo, we are sitting in the same room where Steve and Nathan just sat and had their meandering conversation.
Nathan and Sarah are 36 and 30.
Steve and I are 69 and 64.
And the family house is 61.
So thankful that all of our years have come together in this place.
What about you?
What’s the oldest house you have lived in/or currently live in? What’s the best thing you love about it?
If you were going to have a long conversation with someone you were really comfortable with, what sorts of topics would you cover?
What are you looking forward to this week/month?
Our oldest house would be our previous one. It would have been probably 70 years old. We did a LOT of remodeling in it. Changed every room in the house. We added on 2 bedrooms, a two car garage and converted the original two car garage into a large family room. Lots of work but so worth it. We loved that house. It sat on two lots so the yard was huge and we had great big trees, one big enough for a tree swing for the grands. Oh how they loved that swing! Moving away from that house was so hard! I love to garden and we had the best plants and landscaping. It was heaven on earth. I don’t miss the hard work but I do miss the yard and the beauty.
Looking forward to a trip to South Dakota in another week or so and hopefully some cooler weather. It has been brutally hot here the last few days. Yuck!
It’s always nice to have the kids home and see their things in the same place as before, isn’t it? 🙂
LeeAnne,
Oh, your old house sounds absolutely lovely! And the fact that you put so much of yourselves into it with the remodeling made it even more special. I know that was a teary day the last time you walked out of there!
Life goes on but those are the kinds of places we carry in our hearts.
Enjoy SD and try to track down some cool weather. Have fun!
My family bought the house I grew up in when I was 5 and it was built in 1953. My grandparents built their house in the same town in 1948 next to two houses that were part of my grandmother’s family and were built in 1928 and 1923. My dad was born in the house built in 1928.
No real plans for this week other than maybe meeting my youngest in Dallas for dinner later in the week. We’re supposed to have the hottest days of the year this week – today was 103 – so I’m going to try to stay inside as much as possible!
I like the hairstyle you had when you brought Nathan home from the hospital and I’m sure I could find some of me in with a VERY similar style! Hope you all have a wonderful week!
Sue Ellen,
I love that you grew up in the same place since the age of 5. That is becoming so increasingly rare and is really quite a treasure to give to a child. Made it even better that your family was nearby.
I’m always amazed by roofers and carpenters who work outside when it’s 103. I step outside for 2 minutes to walk the dogs and I am a goner.
Glad you liked my stylish hair! It was “new mom” hair. 🙂
Oldest house would have to be the previous one. We were there for 30 years – one bathroom, 2 kids. Which I know is no big deal, but when you have company and the bathroom is upstairs . . . We thought we would be downsizing when we moved. Next month it will be about 23 years, 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, one of the bedrooms is in a loft area, with it’s own bathroom. When we bought it we could see the IDS from our 4 season porch, after 23 years and the growth of trees, well, we have to go upstairs to see it. Conversations, I am one that does not like to talk much, neither on the phone. At my age, it’s probably things from the Old Days and the coming of our Lord!!!
Sharyn,
It is such a luxury to have more than one bathroom! I grew up in a family of 8 and we usually had just one bathroom. People who have never had just one bathroom don’t truly what it means to have two or more!
Those trees have really grown if they’re blocking your view. But having a view blocked by a tree is much better than a building or something ugly. I love trees!
We bought a house that was around 100-110 years old. Lots to love, lots to dread. One thing I love about the two 100+ year old houses I’ve lived in is the obvious slow expansion of the house. It clearly starts as a 2 bedroom, then another bedroom gets added on, then a garage, then the garage is converted into a bedroom and a new garage gets built, then the kitchen is expanded and the wall between the dining room and living room gets removed and only a support pillar is left, and on and on. We had the utter delight of a framed 3-photo series being passed down to us, picturing the house over the years. In the first, a 1920s era car is parked out front.
Robin,
Lots to love. Lots to dread.
Oh how much truth there is in that statement! Our house is only six decades but that statement definitely hold true.
Yes, old houses do tend to morph a little bit. That is part of their charm. And also part of their frustration during the “morphing” process.
What a treasure to have a 3-photo series of your home through the years. And especially having that old car parked out front. I love stuff like that!
Love the sandals photo, so simple, yet so much meaning for you.
The oldest house I lived in was 4 years old when I was brought there as a newborn, and 54 when I got married and moved, and 56 when my mom sold it.
My topics with just about anyone are travel, kids, quilting, lighthouses, and Montana
I don’t have anything special that I am looking forward to this month.
Patti,
Lots of memories for you in that house! It’s always hard to leave a place like that behind.
Interesting things on your conversation list; any one of those subjects could last for a very long time. We have several hand made quilts from Steve’s grandmas; that a treasure to have those passed down. Quilting is a beautiful art.