Back on Grandpa's ol' Homestead

[primsong]

I had a more unusual Memorial Day event than usual this year... went out early this time and got my flowers on one set of grandparents graves then drove to the little farm town where my other grandparents now reside beneath the grasses. Beautiful day, couldn't ask for better. In a fine mood, I decided to pop over the hill to the little town of Roy itself to see if the old general store they used to run was still standing. It was, though it turns out it's been rented out as a residence which was a little weird (you look in the old store front and see someone's piano and fern, etc. behind the old 7-up sign) but it was kind of funky too... and across the street from it a lady worked in the front yard of the house that once was my grandparents' home.

Fun thing was we ended up talking about the history of the store and the house, then I asked if I might peek around the back yard (grandma's garden used to be there) then she invited us in! I'd never thought I would ever set foot in that house again...hadn't been there for 20 years, since it was sold after grandma died. So many memories! My grandparents were the center of their community for many, many years and these folks said every time people in the area found out where they lived, the reply was always "Oh yes! You live in Spud & Irene's old house!" Even after all these years. (Grandpa's name was Julius, but he went by Spud all his life).

It was the most wonderful afternoon, just lovely people - my daughter started playing their piano and the husband ran to the other room and returned with a mandolin to jam with her. They played and laughed, I gave the dog a good scrubbing behind the ears and the lady grilled me on memories of the house and what it was like - seems they want to gradually restore it to its original form, as over the intervening years someone added various cheap built-in cabinets and 'updates' that really don't fit in. I can't even express how wonderful it is to find my grandparent's home being in such loving hands. They invited us back, asked for pictures of what it was like in the past - we've just made new friends and all because of a burst of nostalgia on a sunny day.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

It sounds lovely. Glad you had such a nice time. (And you're almost turning into a family historian as well - unless you are one already?)

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I do tell my kids a lot of family stories because we've got some real whoppers but never thought of it that way. :-) I suppose in this case, yes! They said they'd been there five years but never quite connected with the neighbors so they loved having company and asked us to come again. And this from just driving by - as I always tell my kids, the world is filled with wonderful people, don't let the sour ones ever make you think otherwise.

[thisbluespirit]

Heh, I am a bit of family historian, you see, although not many real stories to go on.

They sound really lovely. (Maybe one day I'll tell you about how I went to Wales and met a long-lost relative by talking to a man on a tractor. It was like something off TV.)

You're lucky two. My great-grandparents had a house that my family still reminisce about, but they sold it to someone who knocked it down because they were only after the land! And we still have photos. It was big, with wood-panelling inside.

Sorry, I seem to have started waffling! I was going to say enjoy the rest of your weekend, but I forget we don't share bank holidays!!

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Actually, we have this Monday off because of Memorial Day, so it works. :-D

So sorry to hear about your family's former home - that would be even worse than having it 'remodeled'... No chance of ever getting it back then. I'd love to hear about your Wales story, btw - I love stuff like that.