This year marks a turning point in that my grandparents really aren't able to go out anymore. After thirty years of going out to eat, shopping, mini golf, and sleepovers, 2024 brings a new page. As we begin a new chapter, I'm choosing to look back and write things down!
So their first house was in a neighborhood about half an hour from us in our hometown in PA. I still dream of this neighborhood a lot; in particular the lazy-L shaped pool next door. I really wanted that pool...
It was ugly-charming, is my way to describe it! It was what the real estate sites called a Dutch Colonial. We always entered though the side door in the laundry room. Grandma had this vintage sign up of a laundry lady. I can't find this sign today. I don't remember what was written on it or what brand it was for, but I do remember a black and white lady with small eyes, a smile, and a kerchief in her hair. (If anyone can locate this sign, or an image of it, I will send you one million brownie points!) It smelled like Dove soap and Downy fabric softener, which permeated the house.
We'd then enter a small kitchen (counters to the left, table to the right) before going into the living room. This was also fairly small. The wall facing us, coming in, featured a brick fireplace that covered the entire wall. The hallway was perfect for playing "ice skating," which Grandma and I loved to do. She would narrate and then, after the show (aka when we arrived at the stairs or in the kitchen), the crowd would "go wild!" Meanwhile, a small powder room was perfect for playing with water toys with Grandpa. Sometimes I would even incorporate fake pink flowers. I don't remember where they came from.
Their house was dark; the room my sister slept in had either black or very dark blue walls. But my bedroom was sunny---it had yellow walls and a blue/white bedspread (Grandma's signature colors). We'd have tea parties for the teddy bears there by making tea cakes out of Play Doh. My favorite of these was I Love You Bear, named because of the words on her shirt. In the closet there were other treasures---the knockoff barbies we'd play spelling bees with, the toy animals (they were mother-baby sets), and a mysterious box of squishy rubber figurines that my dad used to play with. They looked creepy but they did feel good!
Leaving had a routine of its own: we'd all have a big group hug. Before that, though, we were always invited to pick something out of the candy drawer. Grandma would then send us off with a pack of Kleenex, and she would pretend to follow us home as we pulled out of the driveway.
The next owners sold the house a few years ago. While they lightened up a little, it looked largely the same...but I could recognize a hotel room I used to dream of frequently as the old master bedroom with floral walls. I was especially amused to see a parrot in the kitchen. No way Grandma would go for that!
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