Grandma's part 2

So, to continue our little virtual tour of Grandma's house...

If you go straight when coming in the front door, you're greeted with more black iron gates leading into the other entrance of the formal living room. It was the only room where you got a bit of sun through the curtains (west Texas is HOT if I haven't mentioned that before - the curtains were there to keep the solar heat down) and there were some great bright blue midcentury chairs and sofas, lots of plants, a totally bitchin' stereo, a piano with a great modern art print above it, some the other side of the fireplace, and a white carpet (hence, the gates to keep pets and grandkids out). On special afternoons when we were visiting and we were already too sunburned to spend another afternoon in the pool, we would sit in that room, eat Nature Valley granola bars, and play the Game of Life.

The first bedroom had a corner headboard unit with twin beds coming off at 90 degree angles to each other. The room had custom red bedlinens sewn by Grandma. Next, there was a yellow bathroom (the one I used as a kid, with flower-embossed towels) and across the hall, a bedroom that I don't remember much about except that it had a great floral uber Brady Bunch trash can (and at one time it had a trash can with all sorts of subversive hippie sayings on it but I don't remember that all that well).

At the end of the hallway there was a choice to go to the right into the bedroom that I think was my Mom's growing up (but later had an adjustable bed that I think they got after my uncle was paralyzed in a diving accident) where there was a TV and Grandma's collection of Escher prints. I liked to sleep in that room. To the left, there was Grandma and Grandpa's (yes, I had a Grandpa, and he was a great guy, but the house was a reflection Grandma. The carport was a reflection of Grandpa - with his boat, his cars, and an ever-present cooler of Budweiser - good times were had by all) room and their bathroom. I almost never went in there so I don't remember much.

As much as I loved the inside of the house (and the granola bars, and blueberries and milk, and the Soft Batch cookies in the cabinet under the microwave, and the cans and cans of soup... did I mention I always gained several pounds during those visits? Who knew casseroles could be so appealing??), through my now experienced in gardening and homeowning eyes, the real feat was the exterior! Despite the horrendous heat, well for water, and some pretty atrocious soil, the grounds were always lush and the fish were always happily swimming around their ponds. For a while, Grandma also had peacocks roaming around. I still get the grins when I see a peacock, and if I hated my neighbors, I would have them, too. Same goes for the guinea hens. Those loud SOBs were absolutely adorable!

Grandpa could be found under the carport with his longtime group of buddies, drinking beer and generally amusing themselves. I liked to hang out with them while Grandma made dinner, because apparently it never crossed my mind that I should be helping her...

The pool was great except for the ever-present black wasps and I'm not sure I ever got up the guts to slide down the slide (Grandma wasn't a swimmer so she really preferred we stay in the shallow end - can't say that I blame her).

I don't know what all this description is leading up to except the realization that a house that deeply reflects its owner can be a great legacy - even if only in our dreams - to leave for those who survive us. I'm not sure I will be digging a fish pond or taking up an obsession with avocado and turquoise but I'm awfully glad Grandma did.

I was raised in a family filled with love, adventure, and plenty of weirdness. Home was "wherever we are together" - a great lesson to be sure - but the place I think back to as home, the place that evokes sentimental feelings, it's Grandma's house.

I love her for that (and so much more).