Honor the Past

This is a picture of the house I grew up in.  In fact, that's me with my mom sitting on the front step.

Looking at this picture evokes warm memories of my childhood.  I played Barbie's on those front steps with my friends; we spent endless hot summer evenings playing tag in that front yard. 

Behind that large picture window is a living room with hardwood floors that were polished to a golden sheen by Mom.  That window on the other side is where Mom and Dad's bedroom is. 

The basement windows? Well the one under the picture window is where the basement kitchen was.  Yes, we had a kitchen in the basement.  When Dad built the house he thought he might have renters downstairs at some point but we never did so that basement kitchen was used for Mom's sewing room. The other basement window was for a room we called the rumpus room.  You don't hear that term very often any more; it was really just a play room.

Fast-forward fifty years.  Here is the way that house looks today.  Appealing? Comfy? Homey? I hope that whoever lives there now finds it to be so.

I wish they would cut down those trees that have been left to take over the front.  It doesn't look cared-for any longer, and that makes me sad when I think of the years and effort that Mom and Dad put into making that house our home.

My plea to anyone who lives in an older home is to honor those who were there before you.  Remember that the house, no matter how run down it may be today, was once a source of pride for the original home owners and they worked hard to take care of it. 

We honor the past by caring for the present.

8 comments:

susanalbert said...

Lovely post, Linda. Reminded me of several houses in my own past. I visited them a few years ago, and had some of the same feelings you have.

Karen said...

Such a sweet post, and a good message. It makes me sad to drive past our first house. We worked so hard to make it a home, and it's just not very loved now.

Joanne said...

What sweet memories you have. They feel like the memories of an era ... playing Barbie, tag, hanging out on summer evenings. We all seem to have some of those.

Have a wonderful Easter, Linda.

Unknown said...

Oh, I love this...the barbies and hot summer nights! And of course, as you know, I love those old houses, and we sure TRY when we can to do them justice in our own way!

Alyssa said...

Beautiful post. Homes hold so many memories.

Stella Jones said...

I agree, those trees should be cut down. They're obscuring all the light from the windows. You would think the new owners would want to do that, wouldn't you. The house looked so elegant before with you and your pretty mum sitting on the step. How times change a place. Keep your memories alive though. At least the house hasn't been knocked down yet.
Blessings, Star

Kathleen said...

Whenever I drive by my family home it breaks my heart. Mother sold it some 35 years ago, and since it's fallen into disrepair. What ever happened to "pride in ownership"?

Love your memories & matching photos!

Blessings,
Kathleen

Hill Country Hippie said...

What a cutie you are!