“Every time one sees a relative one finds a thorn”
Rain last night and cold, in the 30’s, predicted for tonight. Such are the vagaries of spring in New England. I just noticed a patch of sun trying to break through the light gray clouds. Go sun!!
The house we lived in on Cape Cod was far bigger than the house before it. My brother and I had our own rooms on the first floor while my sisters shared a room across from my parents on the second floor. The washer and dryer were in the kitchen because the house had only a dug out cellar with a bulkhead entrance in the backyard. A block from our house was the pond, a huge swimming pond with fish and turtles. My sisters sneaked over and swam at night when my parents were sleeping. My father would sometimes spend a bit of time fishing when he got home from work. The fish were small, but it was the fun of fishing my father loved. During the winter, I’d have to walk on the sidewalk along the pond’s edge to get to school. The wind whipped across the water, and it was always the coldest walk. My brother used to sneak in and out of the house through his bedroom window. I never did. When relatives came to visit, my bedroom became the guest room, and I’d have to sleep on the couch. I always hated that. My aunt and uncle came often. They used to bring Italian pastries which we loved and my cousin Bobby, whom we didn’t love. He was rude and obnoxious. My mother told me I punched him in the face once because he wouldn’t stop harassing me no matter how many times I asked him. I don’t remember hitting him, but I suspect there was a feeling of satisfaction. My aunt and uncle stopped bringing Bobby, but they still brought Italian pastries. The house, like most houses on the Cape back then, was never locked. When my parents moved, they couldn’t even find a door key.
It was when I was in the Peace Corps and my brother was in the army that my father got a promotion. His company transferred him to Boston and the family moved. My father joked he wasn’t sending either of us a change of address.
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April 27, 2010 at 11:52 am
We had small swimming ponds where I grew up too, but no fish and turtles. Nowdays we do have turtles in many places since people that has them as pets get tired of them and lets them out in the nature. They can survive here but it is to cold for the eggs to become new turtles.
We seldom had guests in our appartement, it was to little for that. They slept at my grandmothers instead.
Was at the hospital today and my hip has healed so good that I´ll start working full time next Monday. I´m thinking of breaking my leg this weekend, I´ve gotten used to being at home all day 🙂 🙂 🙂
I have some photo´s of houses in my blog today.
Have a great day now!
Christer.
April 27, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Christer,
It gets cold here too, but I think the turtles nestle into the mud to stay warm through the winter.
We were living neat the ocean- a magnet for relatives some of whom I didn’t even know very well.
I’m so glad your hip has healed so well. I know being home and doing what you want all day spoils you.
I loved your blog today as I do every day.
April 28, 2010 at 1:00 am
The turtles has no problems surviving over the winter here, but our summers are to short and cold for the eggs to become small turtles. We live to close to the arctic for that.
April 27, 2010 at 6:27 pm
My house backed on to a swamp and several brooks and ponds. We had turtles, frogs, muskrats etc. The ponds were much too small and shallow to swim in unless you were a muskrat but they made for good skating in the winter.
Our relatives slept on a sleep sofa in the livingroom when they came to visit. They were all from California and it was warmer down stairs. It was also closer to the bathroom.
April 27, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Caryn,
We had a swamp in the woods near where I did most of my growing up. We had frogs, and I think that was it. We too skated there in the winter. It was great.
I would have loved them on the couch instead of me.
April 27, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Good post today Kat. It’s funny how we all have a relative that can’t quite make the cut. Always a problem and “oh my God, she’s not coming is she? or he’s not coming is he?” We had William the Terrible and yeah, his parents got the message and later in life stopped bringing him over when they came through town heading for Nagshead, NC. I’m having my entire yard landscaped, all the Brazillian Pepper trees cut down and destroyed. It’s costing me much but already, first day of work, it shows signs of an improvement. They found a Raccoon nest so I figure as much as you love squirrels, I’m packing them off to S Dennis. Enjoy, much love, Z & Me
April 27, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Thanks, Z&Me,
My mother told me she thought Bobby deserved it, and my aunt and uncle said nothing when I whacked him. At my grandparent’s 50th, which I missed because I was in Africa, my cousin Johnny beat up Bobby and the crowd was cheering for Johnny. Not much had changed by then, but my sister claims Bobby is fairly pleasant now.
I loved my front yard after the landscaper was finished. It is well worth the price, and it sounds like yours will be too.
As for that raccoon, you may keep it. He’ll give your yard some character. Just ask Gracie.