Thursday, May 31, 2012

summer days

today is hot but much less humidity---makes me think of all the summer days ahead, with nice anticipation--

i know most people think of the beach and pool when they remember or look forward to their next summer days of fun and relaxation---and i do too, at least the beach part-----i have never been too much for the pool setting---

but today i was reminiscing about days that bring me back to summer in full force of recollections---

when i think of one of my best days, i always go back to the time, when our family had a lady come live with us for a while---she was a wave in the navy and our church choir leader----she was alone in our city and living in a small house trailer----my mom and dad took pity on her and brought her into our home, for i think maybe a year or so--until she moved on---

i liked her at first but grew to kinda hate her as she clearly disliked me---she loved my sister martha and showed her preference in many ways, the least of which---on my sister's birthday she gave her a piece of luggage and a diamond necklace----on mine she gave me paper dolls and gave martha some too!!

but before i was so clearly jaded by her living with us and treating me like cinderella---i was very excited to have her come live with us----on a great note, she was the one who taught me the right hand on piano --i later taught myself the left hand---

i recall the day we went to her trailer to pick up her things----it was one of the hottest days of the summer and i do not think our car even had ac ---inside her trailer was hotter than the outside, since she had no air running, she had been staying with us already and this was just the packing up day----

it  was something about that trailer and trailer park----it was magical to me----a tiny kitchen tiny sofa, tiny everything---it was a child's paradise----i looked out at all of the kids, running around under the sprinklers and tossing balls and riding their scooters---it was my first experience in a place as such-

i know that some trailer parks are noisy and impoverished and if i ever had lived in one i may not be so romantic about them----but to me then and mostly now---when i daydream about summer and life in general, i often go back to that day--and quietly let it sink in--that feeling an essence to me of summer days

24 comments:

  1. I lived in a "double-wide" in a Mobil Home Park when I was a kid from about 1968 to 1971. It was not your typical, or stero-typical redneck, Jeff Foxworthy trailer or trailer park. It was really a nice home and the park was well kept. It didn't do us too bad.

    When I first married I was a PFC in the Marine Corp in 73 and for 75.00 we rented a typical redneck trailer in a real redneck trailer park in North Carolina. That was one wild ride!

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    1. it sounds awesome to me and always has---another reason was probably because, i remember going with my best friend and her husband-- she was pregnant- i was still single---to look at house trailers, they were so beautiful to me and cozy and extremely romantic!

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  2. My grandmother lived in a caravan (lol - I'm a Brit!). And I remember every day seemed like summer. She always had tiny orange mandarin pieces for tea - out of a can. Oh bliss! You really benefited having the lady living with you if she taught you the piano! btw - what's a wave in the navy (see? I AM a Brit!)

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    1. oh that sounds divine, just like something i can see---robyn and i love to have tea, now i am going to get those oranges next time!!-- and susan waves were women accepted for volunteer emergency service!

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  3. I understand a trailer being a child's paradise. My parents had a camper, and my sister and I used to love playing in it. Everything was so cute and tiny! To this day, I love miniature things. :)

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    1. i know, my husband and i still think how we would love to have one--every time we see one for sale, we go awwwwww :)

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  4. From someone who has actually LIVED in a trailer - I have a hard time seeing any kind of paradise there. I bought the thing when I was 22 because I didn't want to pay rent. I ended up living in it until I divorced. To say that it was crowded with 2 kids would be an understatement but I have to admit that I have some wonderful memories from that trailer.

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    1. i know, it has to be crowded for larger families---but i still feel nostalgic when i pass by one:)

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  5. Enjoyed reading the story; did you guys keep in touch with her? That was nice of your parents to do; she certainly didn't realize the importance of not playing favorites.

    I think I would like to live in a trailer with AC of course if it was just me or maybe hubby and me. I don't need a lot of space and if the price was right, I think I'd be motivated to live there :)

    betty

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    1. no, i haven't seen her since a few years after she moved away, she dropped by our house on her way through to somewhere----i know, you can get so much more house for such a small price, with a trailer--and the new ones today are gorgeous--if you have your own property, it is such a bargain!

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  6. Lynn, this was such a lovely reminiscence. I have always loved summer and memories of summer. Really enjoyed this peek into your heart.

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    1. thanks suze and what a lovely way to put it--cause it is part of my heart:)

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  7. Funny where our minds can take us when we go down memory lane. Every season takes me to a different memory that I had forgotten- or just filed away. They always seem to come back at the right time though, don't they?

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    1. so true and for me it is lots of strange little times and things that don't seem very important, but i can almost remember when they were happening, thinking, i'm gonna remember this:)

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  8. Through the eyes of a child we can see the beauty hidden from adults.

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  9. It's fun to think about things in our life like this, and it's funny how we end up romanticizing things that really don't seem like they should've been so great.

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    1. i know---we never really know why somethings, just click in that internal way and stick!

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  10. A camper van is big on the wish list! Love all the miniature stuff. Intrigued by the possible back story of the sister favouring lady- seems like a feeble way to repay hospitality!

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    1. yeah she was pretty mean in her picking favorites--- yeah sure i wasn't as likable as my brother and sister--my oldest sister had moved out by then---anyway i do remember thinking my parents should have put a stop to it---actually in my thinking about this today----it was not an easy fit in other ways, her living with us---story, i probably never will tell--thanks lily!

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  11. Childhood memories can be so special and indeed magical.

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  12. for 1 semester in college, I lived in a trailer...squished as sardines! we all knew it was temporary, so it was an adventure more than anything!!
    interesting always to think about moments from our childhood....

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