The Simple Pleasures of Grammy's House

What is it about going home that makes you revert to the ways of childhood?  You could live in a mansion or a old farmhouse, but when you go back all you see is home, and whatever childhood memories you associate with it.  My memories are good ones, so I tend to want my children to experience some of those for themselves, even though our own home is a very different place.

Rob and I grew up very differently.  I grew up on a farm with all the dirt, animals and county pleasure associated with that, along with seven siblings and random various cousins. He grew up in the suburbs--the only animals being his basset hound and a house cat, and his playground an actual playground, not the fields and streams beyond the back door.  He has one brother and one sister.

What does this all mean?

When we go to Idaho, this divergence of lifestyle is echoed in the two different experiences the girls will have at Manna's house (Rob's parents) and Grammy's house (my parents).  I have written about the fun things the girls expect to do while visiting Manna. Grammy's house is a little more free form, and a lot more country fun.

Here is what I see:

Cousins running in and out of houses, both Grammy's house and Aunt Liz's house next door.  Kittens and dogs running wild.  The spacious outdoors are calling and very little time is spent caged in by four walls.  Trees are meant for climbing, ditches are meant for splashing in, kittens are meant for cuddling (all 15 of them), flowers and weeds are meant for picking and grass in meant for rolling on, running over, and wriggling bare toes in.  Shoes are an unwanted accessory, dirt is a more likely accessory, and giggling girls whispering secrets is expected.  Sunscreen is rarely given a passing thought, but seeing how close you can get to the sun on the trampoline is a worthy goal.

Treasures are eagerly sought after. . .behind the shop, near the garden, among the cat tails swishing in the canal, and certainly in the old barn with its mysterious store of old farm implements.  

There are many wonders to behold--among the flowering beds of peonies, lilacs and irises and also in the patches of wild flowers blooming along the lane. . .or in the rainbow painted reflections on over sized bubbles, flung wide across the lawn by half a dozen windmilling girls wielding bubble wands. . .getting ever dizzier until they collapse in a heap on the lawn to peer up at the sky and find shapes in the passing clouds.  

Yes, Grammy's house is full of wonders and pleasures, sticky fingers and muddy toes, home baked cookies and the goodness of family--lots of family.  Chaotic bliss.

Of course, that isn't quite how Rob sees it.  He sees. . .

Kids running everywhere makes it difficult to keep track of your own two blondies, so one must be ever alert.  Shoes, where are their shoes?  Shoes are necessary to prevent cuts and germs from rusty metal, rocks and thistles and whatever else may be lurking in the weeds or along the lane.  Don't hold those kittens! Do you know how many germs are on those things--go wash your hands.  Get out of the tree--do you want to break your neck?  Do you know what kind of bacteria could be in that ditch?  Don't go in the front yard, you might get hit by a car.  No, I will not put Charly down, he can't handle the chaos and noisy children, the barking dogs and big trucks.  Where are your shoes? Go wash your hands. Is it time to go yet?

Okay, so maybe I am exaggerating a little.  But either way, I like my view better.

It's all a matter of perspective.