Celebrating a Home

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for providing this space for us to share our celebrations.  I am happy to be back posting this fall Saturday afternoon.

Today we are moving my in-laws to Cleveland where they will live with my their daughter and her husband.  As I am sitting here in the living room, waiting for my mother-in-law to get home from the hospital, I can't help but marvel at all the love and laughter this house has seen.

They moved here 57 years ago last Saturday.  Shirley tells me that the walls were chartreuse throughout the house.  Apparently, it was the builder's special color.  Kirk was three and Kathy was two.  Grant was a young electrical engineer and it was hard to find a house in Ashtabula, the town was booming.  Two years later, they brought home a new baby, Keith (my husband).  They raised three children in this wonderful house with three bedrooms and one bathroom.

Today's been a day of remembering...

• Kathy broke her collar bone when she and Keith decided to go out and "ice skate" on the driveway when they were supposed to be inside doing their homework.
• Phil Nolan broke through the screen door when Kathy had stolen the ball the boys were playing with and she brought it into the house.  No one was supposed to be in the house because Shirley and Grant were gone.  
• Kathy had to grab the pizza while it was there because she was competing with two brothers who ate much faster than her.
• Grant built his first computer in his basement and he met Bill Gates before Bill Gates was Bill Gates.  
• This was the place for Wednesday computer club meetings which Grant hosted for many years.

Today I celebrate this house that has been filled with love and family.  And I celebrate that Shirley has come home and is feeling better.  That's the best celebration in the world.