happy and sad and happy

[aryanhwy]

On Friday, my grandfather and his fiancée Ruth got married. I'm pleased as punch about it, and they both look so happy. The plan was that he would moved in with her (she lives only a block away!) and today mom sent me their new address and said that Grandpa already has a buyer for his house.

It makes me a bit wistful. Grandpa and Grandma Friedemann have lived there since dad was young, it's where we always went for Christmas on that side of the family. And most Easters. And occasional birthday parties and Thanksgivings and other holidays. I have a lot of happy memories connected with that house, and I'm sad that I won't be able to see it again before it is sold. But they live in a pretty small town, and I'm sure if I'm back there visiting Grandpa and Ruth sometime, I can knock on the door of the old place and say "Hey, my grandparents used to live here, mind if I walk around the yard and say good-bye?" and whoever owns the house now probably not only knows Grandpa, but knows or knows of dad, and probably has heard some stories about me. (It's that kind of town.)

And my parents are celebrating 30 years of marriage today. Growing up, I thought all parents were like mine. It was only after I moved off to college that I started realizing just how exceptional mine are. I have had an absolutely fantastic example both of married life and parental life, and I've learned so much from them I'm not sure I can even imagine trying to raise children without their example before me! They made it look so easy. Now that I'm grown up and married and have had to deal with tight financial times and being separated from my husband (though, thankfully, never for very long periods!), I have a lot more respect for how difficult some parts of my childhood were for them. But they only very rarely let that difficulty leak out onto my sister and me. I hope I'll be able to do that as well, if I'm ever in a position that would require me to do so.

Comments

[baron-berwyn.livejournal.com]

When I first met you I thought you must have had exceptional parents, because you were an exceptional young woman. (And still are.)

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I'll grow out of it! :P (The "young" part, at least...)

[jpgsawyer.livejournal.com]

Don't sweat it you will always young to me and you can't out grow that! :-D

[jpgsawyer.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. When my Grandmother sold "Blaremore" the big house she had I felt much the same. I was in Australia with my parents so I didn't get to say goodbye to it.

I have never had the gumption to march up to the very large house in a very posh bit of England and say. Hi! Could I take a farewell look at your garden. All I have done is wander past and get a look at the front.

[thebronwen.livejournal.com]

{HUGS} I understand about the "grandparents' house" thing. We all have to go through it at some time. Doesn't make it any easier to know it, though. I was told the house my Dad grew up in was completely gutted and remodelled. Part of me is curious to see it, and part of me just wants to remember the way it was. :)

I dread thinking that someday my childhood home will get sold. I don't miss the town, but I'll miss that house.

But the house I'll miss most? If we outgrow *our* house, the one Ben and I bought together. There's something about putting work into your own home that makes it... well... HOME. Choosing decorations and paint colors together. Even installing shelves in the extra bedroom closet made it more "ours" becuase it was then not the extra bedroom's clostet but *my* fabric pantry. :)

I had Annabelle out the other night for a visit. She says you need a purple toothless thing. I'll have to see what I can do about that...

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

We occasionally get to drive past the house I lived in until I was 10. It's interesting to see how the paint job changes over the years and how the trees we planted when I was a baby are now huge and probably soon going to be cut down or back because they're encroaching on the neighbor's. It always looks so much smaller than I remember it being when I was a kid.

If Annabelle thinks I need a purple toothless thing, I'm sure I'm not the one to argue with her! I always need more purple things. :)

[frausensei.livejournal.com]

I think it's cool when people's grandpas get to get married! I suppose it could even someday happen to mine, who is my one remaining grandparent.

And, yes, your parents sound like they have had an amazing marriage and parental tenure. Good for them, and you!