I took a few minutes in the parking lot to orient myself to being in another town in pitch dark prior to most places opening... hahaha Like some people do sleep in and open later.
I headed towards Fair Oaks, my old hang out. The cities have grown so much that I could barely make out the main streets, like Greenback Lane and Madison Ave. WOW!! I almost missed Kenneth Ave. they have built a small shopping center on the corner. CRAZY!!!
I had 3 places in mind to see, our Kenneth Ave house, our Brookshire house and my parents house on Molokai. Not wanting to alert people that I was taking photos before the sun came up I got breakfast at McDonald's and sat it out in a lit parking lot.
I found a See's store and a Big 5 store... I love my gps in the van... I can mark a place and then at least try to get back in one piece.
As the sun came over the Sierra's it warmed up and burned the dew off the grass. I left Utah covered with snow and come to a place where it rains and is just green... I've not lived in this area since 1978...so green is a pretty novel thing.
I had the best day all by myself. Lunch was late in the day at Carl Jr's... they make the best teriyaki burger...YUM. I got my shoes and the box of See's to take home.
I went by the Kenneth house and noticed the big Oak was gone. Someone planted a row of evergreens in the front yard to make like a privacy screen. They made a garage again, which is a good thing... Really a nice looking house. The windows have been redone (from the 60's). All is well.
I then went to the Brookshire house. It still has the fence that Mike put up...remember the broken thumb honey. They changed out the double doors and put in a nice door with 2 side windows. The house wasn't to the best looking shape. But I still have good memories from that house.
My final stop on the house tour was my parents house on Molokai Way. It was a sad stop for me... No parents or even neighbors to remember them by.
I think the house next door and mom's house had a fire. The house was closed down with an offical looking paper on the front door. The neighbors house was fenced and the bins looked full. I am grateful my parents and Mark were not around to see this. It would have broken their hearts. Yes, I know it's just a house...but a house filled with memories.. our memories.
When mom lived there it was white spanish style. I like it better white, but then that is my memory. The story on the palm trees goes this way... on the 4th of July in the late 70's we were out doing fireworks and the tree closest to the driveway lit up like a christmas tree... Mike and dad got the hose and put it out. For a few years it was blackened and we all thought it was a goner... But it grew head over heels higher and faster than the other one... It was always a bit of a joke... burn your trees to make them grow!!!
Then I went to Morman Center aka Sacramento Temple. Oh the memories and stories and things to tell... Like when Spencer W Kimball came to visit and gathered the children around him and blessed them. They sang to him... it was marvilous.
We went to church here. It was the building Holly was blessed in.
The little door on the right of the pine is the old entrance to the foyer.
They still have many of the things I remember...
the ball field where the men played softball. The playground and bbq pits are gone but I noticed that the patio below the meeting house still had the covered area where we held little parties. A delight!!!
I didn't get out due to my dumb fears, but I felt the sweet spirit on this hill that has been present for a long long time.
I picked Patti up from work at 5:15 p.m. and we drove home... Long day she has... Hard drive going with commute traffic both ways... No wonder she just wants to eat and go to bed. Me too and I didn't have to work ... I just played and had a good time...
