Return to my Roots

This summer I took the opportunity to "return to my roots". While visiting some of Doug's side of the family in Illinois and Indiana over the 4th of July we took a few days and headed to Grand Rapids, Michigan to see where my Mom grew up. What a bittersweet treat. This was a trip I really longed to do with my Mom but missed the opportunity. Sadly, neither of my parents ever took us kids to their childhood homes. When we traveled as a family, which wasn't often it was always to Florida to see my Grandparents. I was actually in the process of trying to organize a trip for my Mom, my Sister and I when my Mom was diagnosed with cancer six years ago. We never got the chance to make the trip as she went into the arms of our Savior less than two months later. I was relieved that her short battle with cancer was over but greatly saddened to no longer have her presence in my life and among other things to not have the opportunity for her to show me around her childhood home. But even without my Mom with me I so enjoyed driving around her old stomping grounds and taking it all in. I am an absolute sentimental fool!

For part of our time we had the opportunity to visit and reconnect with my Aunt Anne that I hadn't seen in nearly 20 years. She was an absolute delight and quite the spunky 84 year old! This women has not had an easy life. She was widowed in her 30's when my Uncle Lee died and raised four children on a very meager income. But you won't hear her complain. She has nothing but a positive attitude. She accompanied us on a few of our excursions in town...to the house my Mom grew up in and the church where my parents were married. It was neat to hear her insights on the places we visited and even my Mother. It was too funny to hear her refer to my Mom as a bit of a "Cool Hollander" (we're Dutch you know) which didn't surprise me. One of the many pleasures of our visit was having the opportunity to bring her some old photos of her and Uncle Lee and their family and some of Uncle Lee's school report cards as I have been slowly going through (and trying to organize) all the old mementos that I inherited from my Mom and Grandmother. It was a wonderful trip and my only regret is that I hadn't done it sooner...with or without my Mom. Here are some highlights of our time there:

Aunt Anne, Camden & I in front of her apartment building.

This is the house my Mom grew up in. Aunt Anne said it looks pretty much the same as it did when my Mom lived there. The only change was that they (recently) enclosed the front porch. Actually we were able to briefly speak with the current owners....they came out when they noticed we were taking pictures of their house. :) I had brought a picture of the house from the 40's and it was fun to be able to share it with them.

This is where my parents were married on October 31, 1952. It is right around the corner from the house she grew up in. Oh and yes it was Halloween! They were actually supposed to get married two weeks prior. But my Dad, who was in the Navy at the time was delayed. Unfortunately, everything was already planned... invitations printed etc. so they had to redo everything.

The inside of the church was very pretty. Aunt Anne said not much of it had changed. They made the steps go all the way across and they added the organ pipes.

My parents on their day:

Looking back towards the entrance of the church:

The basement where the reception was held:

Aunt Anne & I

Although this is a completely different building then when my Mom lived here. This is the church that she was baptized in when she was 7 weeks old.

This is where my Mom attended school from Kindergarten until 9th grade. It is a little over a mile away from her childhood home.

My Mom graduated from the Blodgett Memorial Hospital School of Nursing:

This is the nifty original entrance to the hospital. It was so pretty!

This is the nursing lodge (front & back) where my Mom lived. Unfortunately, they are getting ready to tear it down later this year.

Here's Aunt Anne waving goodbye from her balcony.