HOMECOMING
What is it about this little house that enchants and embraces us? Like a treasure hidden in the deep recesses of Zillow, it reached out and grabbed me one chilly November morning. Before the day was over, our offer was waiting, and I was holding my breath.
One look was all it took. It nestles on this gentle street named for one of the founders of early New York, aka New Amsterdam, Peter Stuyvesant. Who knows how it got its name? We are a good 270 miles from NYC. I’ll have to find out.
It retains its 1960 vibe, and as I explore, I begin to discover the nostalgic touches that bring me such contentment. The old fashioned linen closet, with that indefinable smell that brings back a fragment of my childhood. The little squeaky board that pulls out for folding clothes. The red brick fireplace. The entry and exit, gracefully paved with earth colored stones. The quirky third bedroom, turned into a strange L-shape by the occlusion of a gorgeous updated bathroom. There I find a shower that transports me to the Amazon rainforest. For sure, this bathroom was made for singing.
Light floods the rooms from east and west. Sunset pours into the living room, gold edged pink and streaks of purple. A baroque painting just outside my window. The sunroom stretching across the back of the house welcomes our baby grand. A bay window, nestled between built in shelves, showcases the Japanese maple just outside. Backyard crocuses and daffodils catch my eye, popping up through an unexpected snowfall.
Nooks and crannies abound. A Chinese puzzle to be solved as I unpack, strategize and tuck away. How is it that things seem to know where to live? It’ll take time. That’s okay. I discard, downsize, let go, replace the tired stuff. Items not used for years take wings and fly out of my hands and into the trash. There is a new joy in this settling in. Could it be that it is somehow easier in a 60 year old house?
So what if the fridge just stopped working? You can’t have everything.
Homecoming!