During the last 2-3 years, Steve and I have made several changes in our life. Changes in our plans. Geographical changes which have included moving our residence. Three times! In some ways, it has been difficult. Not only physically, but emotionally. However, not dwelling on the details of all that, I will get to the point. We have had to take periodic breaks from our agenda at hand. One such break was early this year as we drove down to Florida to bask in some warmth and sunshine. St. Augustine to be exact. We stayed at a couple different places for the two plus weeks we were there and our agenda was assorted.
Steve’s mother lived in St. Augustine for several years before her death. I asked him to take me to see where her home was. So off we went!
After entering the old neighborhood and spotting the familiar looking house midway through the cul-de-sac, we parked at street side. On the front lawn lay piles of debris. Approaching the open front door, we heard sounds of hammering and power sawing coming from inside. A man with hammer in hand stepped into view to greet us and inquire if he could help us. Steve explained that his mother had owned his new house many years ago and they immediately struck up a conversation.
Thus, we were invited in for a tour which unfolded into a reminiscing of stories about family get-togethers in that house. About Steve’s memories of standing in the bathroom shower, which had not been updated since that time years ago! He was younger then, but still fit nicely in that space, as he demonstrated during that verbal descriptive memory.
The new owner plans to add this unit to his other rentals for vacationers after the renovations and upgrades are complete. As we listened to him describe the planned changes, we decided that we would want that bedroom for ourselves if we planned a rental week for a family reunion with the Sawtelle siblings! Steve could pull rank on the others, since he holds seniority!!! LOL
Then we entered into the back bedroom, his mother’s room, which still had the same wallpaper that he remembered. “We never really went into her room in those days” Steve said. Remember how us baby boomers respected our parents and stayed out of their private space? But I have digressed. There we discovered a splendid view of what will again be the beautiful back yard area.
Walking through the remainder of the house, stories continued with showing of old pictures of the family in what then was the Florida room, but now will become a beautiful new family bed-nook which is the name for a large room with bed at one end with a privacy curtain and an adjoining bathroom.
With all the described updates and renovations, this cottage home will definitely be stepping up to a modern new look, with easy flow and functionality.
In addition to all of the perks of the home location and amenities, there is also a lengthly walking trail winding past the back side of the lot! So with that in mind, we definitely have locked in the plan to grab this up-and-coming rental for a week or so. Maybe this upcoming winter! Fits perfectly in our agenda of easily accessible daily walking.
This drive-by stop was indeed a treat for Steve, remembering the times spent there with his mother, aunt, brother, sister and late-wife as they visited together in that house. I wish that I could have met all of the older Sawtelle/Jewett families. I was privileged to have met Aunt Thelma before Steve and I married. What a Gem! She has since passed away. Also, last winter we visited his uncle Don Sawtelle, who still lives in Florida. Since that time Uncle Don’s wife, Aunt Gloria, has also passed. Lesson is; don’t put off those visits with elders in the family. We plan a visit to another Uncle up north this fall. Uncle Jim, whose wife, Aunt Priscilla (Steve’s mother’s sister) also passed, much too soon. I never got to meet her.
Below are pictures of one such family get-together several years ago, taken in front of the window in the Florida room.
L to R: Steve’s sister Sheila, his mother Lorraine, his Aunt Thelma, Steve
L to R: Front – Steve and his sister Sheila. Back – Steve’s mother Lorraine, his (late) wife Sheila, his step-father Armand
Isn’t God good to have put us in the right place at the right time to meet the new owner and get a name and a number for a direct quick connect! What fun it will be to schedule a family get-together with the siblings and make more memories under that roof. This I hope…
Contact me at alice.heartpaths@gmail.com
