My last visit in Ohio I drove by my child-hood home. It looked bad. I think it looked nicer when I lived there... but I am not sure. When I told Greg what happened ironically he said 'The only thing that can help that house is a good fire!"
It was only a two bedroom home (better than the one bedroom we moved from!) My brother and I- yes I said brother- had to share a room! He was 19 mo. younger than I. When we reached Jr. High age the conflict was massive- we pushed every stick of furniture we had back to back- then we nailed a sheet to the ceiling to create a separation and thus created our "own" bedroom. However, we could still lay in bed at night and talk with one another, and we did. After a few years my dad built some walls and nailed some paneling up. This created two very tiny bedrooms and a hall (To this day I have never seen smaller ones!) The register was in the hall- so neither room had heat! But we were so happy to have bedrooms with doors!
As I began to expand my friendships beyond my family I noticed most people did not live like we did. Our home was very clean & always had fresh paint. It was inviting with sturdy furniture. But if trying to explain that you shared a bedroom with your brother wasn't bad enough we didn't have kitchen cabinets! And I was so embarrassed to have my friends over. A large metal sink with a free standing stove- metal table & chairs and one tall white cabinet that held all of our dishes & food. Everything wobbled- (remember the floor!) This was the 70's not the 50's!
When I was entering High School the "Big Re-model" took place! We were getting a whole new kitchen, cabinets, counters & even a dishwasher! the floors were being fixed and to top it off we got shag carpet for the living room! Not to mention a shower in the tub- my parents must have gotten quite a loan because they purchased a color TV as well to watch our three channels on. Oh the luxury!! A furnace & siding was installed a few years earlier. I thought it was the most beautiful home! My ultimate dream of getting to move into a double-wide trailer was no longer necessary! Now it would be acceptable for my friends to see, and I had friends at the house all the time.
When I look back, as an adult, I see how very little material things we really had-we always bordered on the poverty level- we were the working poor. But we laughed and played and sang and loved in that house. We cried and mourned and struggled as well... but I choose to remember the former.
Many hours were spent on the porch swing- every boyfriend I ever had swung with me on that swing! many deep conversations with mom took place late into the night on that swing... one of the last memories of my Dad is he & AJ swinging together. That house is truly only a memory now. - I talked with my brother today- he too was sad- he said, "We really can never go home again" and that is true. But I am grateful that I got to grow-up in such a "beautiful home" It never really is about the "house"
