Something got in the way of this week’s story. I slipped back into the time tunnel, which seems to be happening a lot lately.
It all started with a few trips down memory land, an escaping dog, a movie and a car wash.
My mom, after several months of deliberation, decided to sell our family home of almost 50 years, now, this month. Yikes. This prompted an extended visit to assist her in weeding through Phase One of The Purge.
I started in the garage, my dad’s favorite room, cram packed with his tools, the smell of his pipe tobacco still hanging in the air. Flashback to my 10-year-old self, fascinated by my dad’s talents as a builder and fixer, always eager to accompany him to Center Lumber, his “toy” store. The heat was intense and emotions equally high. Photos albums of our young family lure us from every room to enter the time capsule. A closet clean out reveals my mother’s wedding dress, stuck in time, hanging there just like it was ready for a celebration. I could not resist. After wiggles and many tugs, the stiff lace fell into place, filling in all the curves of my body. I could feel my mom’s excitement at age 23, awaiting a new life, the birth of me and then my brother.
To break the spell of the past and for a few hours ground ourselves in the present, we took time off for a theater movie to see Chef. Happy and funny, it makes you want to jump into the kitchen and start chopping. A welcome comedic relief of inspiration.
Feeling the unsettled energy in the house, Sparky decided to dig out of the yard and take himself for a front yard walk while I was on the way to the car wash. Thank goodness for neighbors who noticed the Spark in front of the house and gave us a call. This interruption in my schedule, although unnerving, was the best thing that happened to me all day. The car wash now took place in the front yard, where I once again entered the time tunnel and almost went into a trance. The year was 1974. The car receiving the scrub was a yellow Capri. Does anyone remember this car? I loved her – so compact and sporty and yellow! She was totally me!
So what got in the way of this week’s story? Life. This blast from the past, a reflection on my life, an opportunity to review my life’s path, was both enlightening and melancholy. Saying goodbye to the orange and apricot trees and to the house that made me feel so safe and comfortable as a young girl, signals the end of one era and optimistically, the beginning of a new, bright path.
If any of you have experienced this déjà vu, I’d love to hear from you!
“Yesterday is but a dream, Tomorrow is only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”― Kālidāsa, The complete works of Kalidasa
Ciao for now,
Mary
You are gorgeous! Beautiful memories. Give your mom a hug from me.
to have such beautiful memories is more than precious. What a wonderful picture of you in your mom’s dress. Leaving a home you have known for life will certainly be difficult. Will Carolyn move closer to you? Being that you are sicj a great pair; hopefully you both will create new beautiful memories going forward. luv j
You paint wonderful visual pictures and, of course, your actual picture is delightful.
Dear Mary,
Another well written (and poignant) story. I loved seeing you in your mom’s wedding dress! One day long ago when my mom was babysitting with my 3 year old daughter, she was showing Jenny (both grandmom and granddaughter were named Jenny) my old prom dresses. Wow! Potential for dress ups!
They came upon my wedding dress hanging there and little Jenny asked what that was for. Grammy explained that I wore that on the day her dad and I got married. Little Jenny grew very thoughtful and than said, “Charlie (older brother) and I must have had a babysitter that day.”
How nice that you have such happy memories. And, yes, I had a Capri, too, only mine was red. Jenny, in semi-baby talk called it the “Crapri”. No further comment.
What are Carolyn’s plans now that she is giving up the family home? We would love to see her here. Let us know.
Lovingly,
Janet
Sent from Windows Mail
Mary,
How well I know that visit to the past. My brother, sister and I cleaned out my parents house after they went to assisted living several years ago. What memories! We had tears and laughs alike when it was all said and done.
My Dad passed on Aug. 9, 2013 and my mom just passed April 21 of this year. They had full lives right up to the age of 91! Now that’s a lot of living. 🙂
Today would have been my mom’s 92nd birthday, and I’m missing her, but I am so grateful for having both of them in my life.
Thanks for taking us on your walk down memory lane, especially with your mom’s wedding dress! Wow.
Thanks for your posts. They are truly authentic and interesting to read.
Much love to you,
Nancy
How fortunate I am to have my first born travel down memory lane with me. Both poignant, sad, reflective, happy, funny, tearful and all the rest. I will never forget the unstoppable laughing as we tugged the dress over your head, but we made it happen!
As hard as it is to leave these walls, I will forge ahead to new beginnings and new adventures with you.
Thank you for the gift of time and all you seem to do to make my life a happy one.
I love you!
Mary! So beautiful in that gorgeous dress. And it is hard to leave the old homestead behind. But upward and onward! Hugs to your mama.
Bonjour mon chere amie, Marie!
Tu est tres belle dans cette robe! A snip and a tuck here and there and, voila, you could be like on the show “Something Borrowed, Something New’! The skirt is beautiful!!! I bet that’s been an emotional experience for both you and your Mom, selling the house, taking a time journey through all the memories. Hugs!! Thanks for sharing. Have a great trip to Denver and I’m looking forward to hanging out when you get back. love, Robyn
I am the fortunate one to have you as a mother. We have shared such great times and most importantly, a true friendship. Yes, we both will make it through this passage. I see a bright light just ahead…. :-))
Wow, thanks for sharing Nancy. It’s nice to know that someone else can relate to this passage of time. Happy Birthday to your mom today. I’m sorry they are both gone but yes, 92 is a great and long life. They must have been wonderful and loving people to have such a sweet and caring daughter. I hope to see you very soon!
I cannot believe you had a Capri! Too funny! I loved your story about the wedding and babysitter. That’s a keeper! I’ll fill you in on mom’s plans soon. I will love to see her here too! I’ll keep you posted. XO
Grazie Mary Joy!
Packing is such an emotional experience. It’s like starting to go through withdrawals before the move has even happened. You start to distance yourself from the physical space. And the new memories will be beautiful!
Thanks Carolyn. XXOO
Merci mon amie! Such a wild trip it is! See you soon. XXOO
Thanks Eva. Upward it is, all the way!!
A wonderful post, but one that reveals the losses and changes in our lives that are never easy. A home of 50 years, cleaning out, bringing on a roller coaster of emotion. Hope you will continue to reflect more about this time of an old wedding dress and your Dad’s tools.
Thanks for your thoughts Stepheny. The process has just begun so I’m sure there are many more stories in the house yet to be unearthed. I’ll see where it takes me…..
Sorry to hear that Carolyn sold her home. That is so hard it is more than half of her life and memories of Jim and you and John. It is a comfort zone. She has you and John and Mirna and children for support. Hope she will be close to all of you and many wonderful memories of a great man. Mirko loved him very much and Carolyn and respected his long talks that they had at the beach house. Such great memories. God gives us strength when we least expect it.
Yes it is sad to leave the place I called home for most of my life. I love Riverside and its unique personality. So many memories but that is what life is – memories, right? It really is one of the most difficult times of my life. I just keep looking forward toward the light…