tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post6804726791183405405..comments2023-11-18T03:15:19.102-06:00Comments on Straight From Hel: Going HomeHelen Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-57589819739824607952010-05-11T14:31:59.317-05:002010-05-11T14:31:59.317-05:00Loved the whole post, but especially that last lin...Loved the whole post, but especially that last line. <br /><br />I went back to my elementary school about ten years ago. It now houses administrative offices for a toxic waste disposal group. There <i>has</i> to be something there that I can work into a story at some point.Karen from Mentorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03685540761526680384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-51810089999998409922010-05-11T02:28:31.208-05:002010-05-11T02:28:31.208-05:00What a lovely memory post. I do so approve of the ...What a lovely memory post. I do so approve of the town name, anything with SMY in it, I approve of, lol.<br /><br />Before we emigrated, a weekend was spent travelling around old haunts and homes. We ended the journey outside our first married home. I wanted to look inside, to walk into the room where our first born had lay in his cot. To see the nursery that became the room for our girls.<br />I closed my eyes and my babies played in the yard again.<br />Emotions and old homes, they sure do bring on the memories...and tears.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-86297103168546968652010-05-10T21:27:41.308-05:002010-05-10T21:27:41.308-05:00It's hard to go back. I did that one year when...It's hard to go back. I did that one year when I was in London. The beautiful brick Victorian house we had lived in is now plastered in white with a big satellite dish on the front. My dad's lovely garden is now a concrete parking area. My old school is a shopping center and the church where my mum and dad were married was pulled down and is now council flats (government housing). Hang on to the lovely memories of playing in your little area of the hundred acre wood.<br />Ann<br /><a href="http://www.annsummerville.com/" rel="nofollow">Ann Summerville</a><br /><a href="http://www.cozyintexas.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Cozy In Texas</a>Ann Summervillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300190648788509096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-20149583597104768952010-05-10T20:18:16.731-05:002010-05-10T20:18:16.731-05:00For me, it's both wonderful and a bit sad. I h...For me, it's both wonderful and a bit sad. I have vivid and great memories, although they will fade over time. But someone else will build their own memories.<br /><br />I try to remember this lesson when I write.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-622886141459723082010-05-10T19:53:51.895-05:002010-05-10T19:53:51.895-05:00Great points about the perspective of childhood an...Great points about the perspective of childhood and how it all looks different from an adult's eyes. <br />My brother and I also had a patch of woods we played in and now when I see it I realize it was little more than a larger than average treeline between two farms.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-44042926097799453082010-05-10T19:17:46.079-05:002010-05-10T19:17:46.079-05:00So very, very true Helen. I still live in the same...So very, very true Helen. I still live in the same town and walk by my childhood home fairly often. It has changed enormously. It seems to have shrunk. Every time I walk by I'm tempted to knock and ask for a tour. But I know I'd be leery if it happened at my house, so I never do. Guess I'm stuck with the memories only :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-19191917598505911032010-05-10T16:39:38.581-05:002010-05-10T16:39:38.581-05:00Wonderful story, Helen. I had to laugh when you me...Wonderful story, Helen. I had to laugh when you mentioned the woods that were not as large as what you remembered from your childhood. I had a similar experience when I wanted to show my kids the "canyon" I played in with my brother in West Virginia when we were kids. <br /><br />And my grandmother's house had changed so much with new people living in it, I hardly recognized it. I guess this is pretty standard for most of us.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-3760539158016542992010-05-10T15:46:20.410-05:002010-05-10T15:46:20.410-05:00I'm back home! With phone recharging and compu...I'm back home! With phone recharging and computer plugged in. I'm plugged in as well. Thank you all for stopping by. I'm glad you liked the post.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-38519565092060968532010-05-10T14:46:42.784-05:002010-05-10T14:46:42.784-05:00I live in the same house I grew up in. We've d...I live in the same house I grew up in. We've done a lot to it, went from two to three stories, built a garage, landscaping. I sometimes wonder what it feels like for my bother and sisters when then come by for a visit.<br /><br />Beautifully written, Helen.<br />~jonJ. M. Strotherhttp://www.jmstrother.com/MadUtopia/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-87980070637376123032010-05-10T13:48:36.109-05:002010-05-10T13:48:36.109-05:00So true! It's a hard thing to see, because yo...So true! It's a hard thing to see, because you feel happy to be "home", but sad for what's changed.Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-17492504656814468912010-05-10T12:12:00.829-05:002010-05-10T12:12:00.829-05:00Sure Maribeth.
Forgive typos-I'm sitting in ...Sure Maribeth. <br /><br />Forgive typos-I'm sitting in a plane. And phone is pinging that it's almost dead.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-9102157632689388442010-05-10T12:03:27.855-05:002010-05-10T12:03:27.855-05:00I love how you've written this Helen. My brot...I love how you've written this Helen. My brother lives in the house I grew up in. I see it often, but it doesn't "feel" the same...something to write about...you are correct.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-21560151807461899192010-05-10T12:00:29.807-05:002010-05-10T12:00:29.807-05:00Helen, this is so good. Not only a little glimpse ...Helen, this is so good. Not only a little glimpse of you, but also how to handle this in writing. Thanks so much for sharing.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-75825460243558353992010-05-10T11:42:34.579-05:002010-05-10T11:42:34.579-05:00What a fascinating perspective – and how true it i...What a fascinating perspective – and how true it is. I remember my perception of my 'home' changed during the short trips I made back there as my parents aged.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-73484057796875249442010-05-10T10:06:48.968-05:002010-05-10T10:06:48.968-05:00How true. My home town seems like a time and place...How true. My home town seems like a time and place from another era. Completely different. I feel like a stranger in a strange land. But hey, the new perspective gives me ideas to write a new book. But that's a story for another day..<br /><br />Stephen TrempAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-38532413040284091882010-05-10T09:51:08.796-05:002010-05-10T09:51:08.796-05:00So poignant. I can relate and appreciate your thou...So poignant. I can relate and appreciate your thoughts here, Helen; I've been spending much time at my childhood home of late. Home has grown into something new.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-9067288923063789692010-05-10T09:47:48.169-05:002010-05-10T09:47:48.169-05:00Helen, what a wonderful blog on perpective. So tru...Helen, what a wonderful blog on perpective. So true too. Before my son was born, and we lived on the West Coast, I went to Eugene, OR and took my husband to see the school I spent 5th grade in. (We moved quite a bit when I was growing up, first as a military family and then for construction jobs) I remembered it so much larger than it was. As I walked to the tether ball courts, I was amazed at how small those poles were whereas, in my memory they seemed so much taller. <br /><br />Perspective is so important. I enjoyed your article, observations, and the practical application of perspective. :-)~Sia McKye~https://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-78922911698374471512010-05-10T09:34:19.575-05:002010-05-10T09:34:19.575-05:00We moved so much when I was a kid. None of the hou...We moved so much when I was a kid. None of the houses ever felt like home. It must be a unique feeling.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-89574759270614216922010-05-10T09:05:00.967-05:002010-05-10T09:05:00.967-05:00"...it’s not back to your past. It’s back to ..."...it’s not back to your past. It’s back to someone else’s future."<br /><br />I agree with Marvin. This would make a great line, also a good tweet.<br /><br />When I went home to NZ some places I shouldn't have visited and left them as memories. I didn't know how to feel. I was empty. The memory was crushed or skewed. Cool post Helen.<br /><br />Its midnight here. I've been rewriting the wip for 12 hours today. It maybe because I'm tired, but your post made me a little emotional. <br /><br />Take care, Simon.Simon Hayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09384384882217609761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-48302419014673501672010-05-10T08:45:50.798-05:002010-05-10T08:45:50.798-05:00I returned to the university I attended over 30 ye...I returned to the university I attended over 30 years ago. Those inviting pathways, the familiar buildings were still there, but so much more had changed. You're so right about emotional attachments changing with time. There are many subtle factors at work a writer should keep in mind.Paul Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836602667355512504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-92074547249357629942010-05-10T08:32:52.065-05:002010-05-10T08:32:52.065-05:00That struck a chord!
The original house I grew up ...That struck a chord!<br />The original house I grew up in still sits on my mom's property, but a newer house resides behind it - and the old one is just storage. The last two times I'm been back to Oregon, I didn't even go inside, and it would be hard to see it in such a state of disrepair.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-89202463325700040622010-05-10T07:48:26.294-05:002010-05-10T07:48:26.294-05:00What a good thought to keep in mind, that it's...What a good thought to keep in mind, that it's not just the property, or house, or town that changes over the years. Our own perspective, and wisdom and experiences shine on the past, casting a different light on it as the years pass by.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-74675285057269795082010-05-10T07:48:15.295-05:002010-05-10T07:48:15.295-05:00I'm sure Smyrna has changed immensely - Atlant...I'm sure Smyrna has changed immensely - Atlanta has exploded in recent years.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-35967479606832058442010-05-10T07:12:05.496-05:002010-05-10T07:12:05.496-05:00Great post that says so much. Sometimes I think we...Great post that says so much. Sometimes I think we forget how much our perspective changes as we get older. It changes as we do so it's natural. <br /><br />Mason<br /><a href="http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Thoughts in Progress</a>Mason Canyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935307400882363560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-39547750854414252182010-05-10T07:04:55.780-05:002010-05-10T07:04:55.780-05:00It's bittersweet, isn't it?
And different...It's bittersweet, isn't it?<br /><br />And different people will react differently too.<br /><br />When my husband and I went back to our childhood homes in Chicago, it was harder for him to let go. <br /><br />Me, I shrugged it off. It wasn't home anymore. It was simply one of my stopping points along the way.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.com