I loved everything about this post, Lynda! My parents moved from our childhood home over 25 years ago but the image of my teen bedroom is watertight, right down to those precious mix tapes. The hearing aids line rings familiar now!
Thank you Jules, so kind. I loved those mix tapes (and recording favourite tracks from the Sunday night radio show...). My parents will probably soon have to move out of my childhood home and I'm really not sure how I'll cope with it.
I have resisted leaving our mid terraced crumbling property for the same reason. It is the vessel of memories, of my daughter walking and my son learning to read. I imagine myself here one day, my children having to make the difficult decision to move me somewhere else. It’s all very beautiful and painful at the same time. And then I think of those who have never had a fixed home and I become humble and even more grateful for the bricks and my time with them.
I too recorded the tracks (from the Casey Kasem American Top 40! My mom would sometimes bring home an electric Brother typewriter from work so when she wasn't doing secretarial things, I'd get on there and peck out the Top 40 list. When my parents moved from our childhood home my mom gifted my siblings and I with photo albums that had pictures of every room of the house and the property. I'm so glad for this--it is an odd, unsettling thing when our first sense of "home" moves.
I am resolved to take photos next time I'm 'home', such a good idea. It's made more complex in our heads by the fact that my brother died at 21, so the house holds SO many memories.
I remember the typewriter too! In fact I'm sure I had to do a typing evening class (I was crap but I have improved, especially on a mobile phone keyboard 🙃). I used a lot of Tippex if memory serves me (not sure if that's a US brand...?)
Hi Lynda. That's an extra emotional stronghold with your brother's memories as part of your 'home's' foundation. In my first book I simmered down the concept of 'home'--is it a person, a place, a thing? Is it where our parents are? Where we once were? I could type forever about this---I had to look up Tippex--aha! Like Liquid Paper. YES! Same. My mom urged me to take "Business" in grade 10. Such a snore but I learned how to type--unlike my sister who pecks away with great speed but chicken-style! Do take photos. You'll be so happy for this.
I loved everything about this post, Lynda! My parents moved from our childhood home over 25 years ago but the image of my teen bedroom is watertight, right down to those precious mix tapes. The hearing aids line rings familiar now!
Thank you Jules, so kind. I loved those mix tapes (and recording favourite tracks from the Sunday night radio show...). My parents will probably soon have to move out of my childhood home and I'm really not sure how I'll cope with it.
I have resisted leaving our mid terraced crumbling property for the same reason. It is the vessel of memories, of my daughter walking and my son learning to read. I imagine myself here one day, my children having to make the difficult decision to move me somewhere else. It’s all very beautiful and painful at the same time. And then I think of those who have never had a fixed home and I become humble and even more grateful for the bricks and my time with them.
I too recorded the tracks (from the Casey Kasem American Top 40! My mom would sometimes bring home an electric Brother typewriter from work so when she wasn't doing secretarial things, I'd get on there and peck out the Top 40 list. When my parents moved from our childhood home my mom gifted my siblings and I with photo albums that had pictures of every room of the house and the property. I'm so glad for this--it is an odd, unsettling thing when our first sense of "home" moves.
I am resolved to take photos next time I'm 'home', such a good idea. It's made more complex in our heads by the fact that my brother died at 21, so the house holds SO many memories.
I remember the typewriter too! In fact I'm sure I had to do a typing evening class (I was crap but I have improved, especially on a mobile phone keyboard 🙃). I used a lot of Tippex if memory serves me (not sure if that's a US brand...?)
Hi Lynda. That's an extra emotional stronghold with your brother's memories as part of your 'home's' foundation. In my first book I simmered down the concept of 'home'--is it a person, a place, a thing? Is it where our parents are? Where we once were? I could type forever about this---I had to look up Tippex--aha! Like Liquid Paper. YES! Same. My mom urged me to take "Business" in grade 10. Such a snore but I learned how to type--unlike my sister who pecks away with great speed but chicken-style! Do take photos. You'll be so happy for this.
Truly you are blessed to be able to spend time like this with your parents. ♥️
I agree, and I'm very grateful.