When I was in eighth grade, I moved away from my home. I lived on the outskirts of a little town known as Jefferson, embedded in the heart of Ashtabula county, Ohio. My house was a humble country home nestled comfortably on two acres. It was full of memories that I still cherish.
This house has become very important to me. I remember the first time moving there. My parents had just recently split up. I was only four at the time. I just remember thinking, “We’re going to live with Grandma!” I hadn’t fully realized the situation at hand. My grandma waited patiently for our arrival. It was dark when we pulled in, I do remember that. My brother and I immediately went to bed. The next day we woke up to start the rest of our childhood.
This was the house that some of my favorite traditions stemmed from. Every Thanksgiving, the family would come over, my brother and sister would be watching the Macy’s day parade, and I would be going back and forth from helping my grandma in the kitchen to watching the parade. When dinner was ready, I would run to the living room, turn on the stereo, and start playing Christmas music. Afterward, we would set up our Christmas tree.
The lights of the tree were some of the most beautiful that I can remember. Sparkling. Dazzling. The garland would almost twinkle, breathing with the life that lights had given. The house would come alive with beautiful ornaments and a light vanilla scent coming from the oven. The house would be brilliantly illuminated well on through New Year’s.
New Year’s was also a time of tradition. My brother, grandma, and I would prepare a snack for the night. Our couch was covered with pillows and blankets, so that we would be comfortable. We would watch Disney movies for hours and hours. Finally, when the time came, we would sit to watch the ball drop. We would ring in the new year by passing around hugs and kisses and wishing each other a happy new year.
As spring came around to greet us with its warmth, my brother and I would begin to get excited about the possibilities of playtime outside. Since we lived in almost the middle of nowhere, we had to get creative with our entertainment. My brother and I came up with this roleplaying game that we called "Star Power." It was essentially a roleplaying game where we were alien superheroes with the power of the elements. For kids, though, this game was rather intense and involved with complex rules and maps and backstories. It was one of my favorite games to play!
As we played outside, my grandma would come out onto the porch and call us in for lunch. It was usually the same thing: Campbell’s soup and sandwiches. Even today, when I eat soup and sandwiches, it brings back powerful memories of my childhood.
After a long day, we would stay in and watch TV or movies. Our favorite show as a family was "The Crocodile Hunter." It was always on at 9 o’clock, right before bedtime. On Friday nights is when we would watch movies. Our top choice was always "Homeward Bound," a movie about three pets going on an adventure across the Rockies to find their family.
Looking back on my childhood home, there are so many things I miss about it. Nostalgia’s a funny thing, though. We long for what once was and don’t want to really truly accept the fact that it’s it the past. But we must look back on these memories with a smile because that’s what the memories are there for. I fully appreciate growing up in the house and there would be no way that I would change the house for the world.
