I was going over to Gramma & Papa's during the week to mow & water the yard & plants and turn lights on & off...and water the strawberries & trees...and feed pokey. It would take a couple hours to do it all...so I would spend most of the mornings there. I was waiting for the sprinklers in the front to finish (10 mins per section...no less, no more...that was the way it was done!), and I was walking through the house and it occurred to me that everything was going to be gone soon. Stuff was going to be taken down, and packed up, and divided up...and it wouldn't be in this house anymore. The things we'd see in mostly the same spots for years, wouldn't be there anymore.
The toy room would be someone else's room....the front room wont be where all "the kids" eat Christmas dinner together anymore...and where the little great-grandkids would have treats & toys stored for them when they would come visit. The middle room wouldn't be the office and the room that at one time had about 100 St. Bernard stuffed dogs in there. And Gramma & Papa's room would be someone else's bedroom soon. Family pictures wont be hanging crooked in the living room above the tv.
We wont be able to sneak some Ritz & saltine crackers as we walk thru the kitchen as they sat on the counter in perfect rows waiting for Papa's morning snack routine. Kiddos wont get to mess with the little glass jar of candies on the living room table like they did every time they'd come over. Just all the little things that we get used to being there & doing there...kinda just hit me that soon we wont have that anymore.
Just a piece of Papa's immense hat collection in the back patio. It grew and grew...and he'd wear a hat for a while and it'd get beat up...and he would hang them back up and wear another one for a few months. Always wore a hat outside though....rarely saw him without a hat sitting high on his head! Kinda became his signature....
Hanging in the hallway...a door handle plaque from the Lynne Farm where Gramma grew up. Such a cool thing...the saying under the picture says "The doorknob is a house's handshake". Something cool and memorable to have from a home you grew up in. You probably hold that handle millions of times without thinking about it...without thinking it is significant...but it is. It is the first and last thing you touch when you enter & leave a home....yet most people don't remember it...or remember what it looks like or feels like. Everytime I stood in the hallway or walked by it, I made it a point to notice it, and remember it.
Who could forget Pokey! Their last pet...
Who loved being messed with, and harassed...and LOVED him some painted toenails. If you have never seen a turtle "run", then you have never met Pokey. He would literally "run" after your painted toes! He eats an entire head of romaine lettuce in a day....loves peaches....likes to sleep in in the morning. It was funny because he had a pretty standard routine too...maybe Gramma & Papa started rubbing off on him. He did the same thing everyday.... He is a good turtle though...and a good pet! think he brought Gramma & Papa some happiness in his years with them. Gramma liked to carry him around, when she still could....and Papa like poking him with his cane. He LOVED messing with him....and I think Pokey loved to be messed with...he always came back for more.
Mom & Dad decided to "inherit" him....so we still get to visit him when we go home. Dad, Vince and Drake built "Pokey Town" in their backyard. Its not very big...and could still use a pond or a water feature...and some shade tress....but Pokey Town is a off to a good start. He will take a while to adjust to it...as he hasn't known any other home in quite a while...hope he adjusts ok. Riedman's aren't great with "change".
So Papa's morning routine for the past few years was to get up at the crack of dawn....and by crack of dawn I mean I think he was on Eastern time (4am)....kept getting earlier and earlier as the days went on. Rain or shine...hot or cold...dark or light...basically no matter what, Papa went outside and made a fire in his patio fire pit every single morning. He said it helped him breathe. It was definitely always nice out...and I understand why he liked it so much. Some days it was the only time he made it outside. But, whether he felt horrible or great, he was out there every morning. That was special time for him I think. Some days he wanted company...others, not so much. Some days he was really talkative, other preferred quiet...which I understand too. I got to have many "fire talks" with him though...it was really the only place you could talk to him....kinda had his undivided attention out there. So, many great conversations were had on this patio...by lots of us. So, figured the fire pit needed one more fire...or maybe I just did...who knows. Granted it wasn't dark, or freezing cold, or at 4am...but I was able to get my last fire here, on this patio, in this house
...even if it had to be alone.
...even if it had to be alone.
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