Some weeks ago I saw a message on my fb that the neighborhood where I grew up, is set for demolition!
My mother was a single parent, not by choice, I might add. I grew up with four siblings, so five in total, in a small 3 bedroom apartment! Even though mom was always there for us, my childhood was anything but easy. My old neighborhood holds so many memories, good and bad. It's strange that after fifty years all the apartments finally make room, for? For what, I don't know! I suppose that the apartments are being replaced by expensive houses.
The big supermarket, is gone too. As well as the farmland, where cows and sheep used to graze. Expensive houses everywhere, it's surreal! The apartment on the second floor that's where I grew up. The apartment on the left is where I lived for several years and married the love of my live. When my mom died, we moved away, because I could stand to see the apartment every single day, knowing mom wasn't living there anymore. It's been more than fifteen years, and it's all behind me now. Or at least that's what I thought.
Memories of Christmas, large tables were set-up so we all fit in. Think of five children and their spouses LOL. Sunday afternoons with lemonade and cookies.
Bringing mom's dog to the vet, so he could put him down, he was very old and sick. The poor boxer had cancer! Celebrating New Years with the whole family. Back then, most doors to the apartments were open and we went from one neighbor to the other, it was so much fun. Back then, there were not many cars, so playing soccer and other ball games on the streets was normal. It's with a smile and a tear that I look back, and take a stroll down memory lane! So much has happened in the last fifteen years. I lost family and friends, but on the way, gained new friends. As it is, life does go on, no matter what!
I came to live around the corner from the apartment I grew up in after I returned for good from Switserland. I have so many fun memories looking back. I loved the place, it was also a three bedroom apartment. The smallest room, I used as my office. Another bedroom I turned into the dining room. Yeah, it was a nice place indeed!
Looking back, I know that there were many changes in my life and that's how it's suppose to be. We need changes in our lives, it keeps us going in new directions.
My mom was a wise woman. She told me once that "I should never forget that I was young once too" She said that too many people forgot and that's the reason that they don't understand young people... They simply forgot that they, too, were young, once!
There isn't a single day that goes by that I don't think of my mom. But seeing the empty apartments that are ready to be torn down, made long forgotten memories flooding to the surface again. I grew up, poor, really poor, and I had to fight for everything I have now. That's why I take nothing for granted, I now have my own home (we built it about eight years ago) with a nice garden, hubby is doing great. Max is happy and healthy, I feel fine, life is good!
So, changes in our lives, when we get older, is not a bad thing, as long as we remember that we were young once, and don't take people or the things they do for granted!
I know it doesn't look like it now, but once the surrounding area was nice and in good shape.
