Memories
The highlight of my summer was definitely the 6-day road trip Dave and I took with my parents to attend my cousin’s wedding. Not only was I honored to be in the wedding, I was so excited to see my family for a solid 4 days. We drove across the never-ending state of Pennsylvania, through Ohio, and into Michigan. I don’t think it dawned on me until we hit Ohio that I had been on I-80, on this same journey, many years ago.
I started to remember the road trips to Cedar Point in Grandma and Grandpa Rossi’s motor home. I remembered all the times Grandma and I had driven to see various family members in Michigan and Ohio when I was little. Then I saw the Michigan border and everything became familiar. I remembered the trips from the airport to Grandpa J’s house to deliver his favorite cheesecakes from a restaurant we loved in Rhode Island. I started to realize how much I missed this place and my family who today is only with us in spirit. Not only did I miss them, but I missed their homes and their neighborhoods and all the things that filled my family memories.
So, I asked Mom and Dad if we could stop by their old neighborhoods. I hoped it wouldn’t be too painful to go back to the houses their parents lived in for 40 years, and just say “hello.” They smiled and agreed and, I shed a few tears just thinking about it. We all agreed to stop at both houses on the way home from the wedding. The morning of our return trip, we were up at 6am and on the road for Allen Park, Michigan.
Rossi home, once upon a time
The Rossi house looked as I remembered it, with a new fence and some nice new landscaping. The Jablonowski house also looked great. As we sat in the street, staring at the house, the owner walked out toward her car and I couldn’t help but feel compelled to explain our gawking. I told mom that we needed to say hello before she called the police.
Mom rolled down her window and explained that her dad built the house and passed away in it 40 years later. The woman was so wonderfully understanding and told us that her parents had purchased the home from my Grandpa and she had assumed it from them. She said it was a great house and they had even made an addition on the back. Mom got choked up and I was grateful knowing that my family’s homes, where I had so many memories, were so well taken care of. I felt like it was okay to continue the journey home knowing that our little piece of Michigan was in good hands.
Jablonowski home, once upon a time
Originally posted at The WaxNation. Please leave any comments there. Posts on The WaxNation are written by either Kate or Dave Waxman; however livejournal can not display the author details thus to determine its author you must visit the original post.