On a recent day trip antiquing in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, I found myself desperate to find my grandparents old home in nearby Elverson. It’s right outside of Reading and for those of you that don’t know, it’s a slower life there in farm country.
I was racking my brain to think of my grandparent’s old address, but it’s been twenty-two years since I have walked on the land and slept in the house. Too many years have gone by.
They had a rancher and lots of land to play. Not to mention a huge lake behind their home to swim, fish, and ice skate on. They had fields of green and corn rows popping up all around them.
My brother and I thought it was pure heaven visiting “The House.” We loved life on those lazy summer days. We stayed for weeks at a time. When day turned to dusk we would run across the busy road they lived on to the tennis courts. They were situated right next to a church…the only two things for miles. I tried to play while my brother tormented the hell out of me. But, it was still fun and most importantly, it was our time together to be young.
One of my favorite things to do while visiting was tending the garden with my grandfather. I can see him now with his overalls on, work boots, a white t-shirt, and cigar hanging out of his mouth. He was probably just chewing on it and singing some random song.
He was a burly, strong man but when he was in his garden he was different. He was proud of this overgrown huge grapefruits, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini’s. He would sit at the dinner table at night and make you try whatever he picked that day.
Sometimes we would fight him, and other times we just tried it to make him happy. Either way he had a smile on his face that beamed from ear to ear.
I called my father and asked him where in the world the house was. All he remembered was that it was on Route 82. I just followed along with the GPS and before long I found it. I immediately recognized the church and the tennis courts.
So, my boyfriend and I pulled over into the church lot and I waved down a man on a tractor cutting the grass. I ran across that busy road like I was ten again. I told him that I was the granddaughter of the people who lived here twenty-two years ago. He was kind and generous to let me reminisce for a while. I asked if a man named Bob still lived next door and he said, “Yes, he’s one house down.” To that I replied, “Then this is not my grandparent’s old house.” We all laughed for a minute and then walked a few feet over to the right house.
I would have never recognized it. Huge Spruce trees lined the front of the home along with all kinds of other greenery. The house was a different color and the garage was bigger. It shocked me. Wow, time changes everything I thought to myself.
I mentioned to this lovely neighbor that they had a red deck and he was delighted to let me know it was still standing.
I slowly walked down the side of this stranger’s lawn that once felt the running, dancing, and skipping soles of my shoes. It looked like a jungle out there but I saw the weathered red deck peeking through the bushes.
I felt overwhelmed. Then, I saw the garden that I loved so much. That big garden that took up the back of the property right before the lake. It was still there! He kept it after all these years. Huge sunflowers were towering above the other crops and I couldn’t believe my eyes.
But, some things were different. The township filled in the shallow end of the lake and grew crops everywhere. You couldn’t see the lake from the backyard anymore. Corn fields replaced memories, and life was different here in Elverson.
More people have moved into the area and the stillness isn’t so still.
As I walked back up the backyard I found a beautiful feather. I crept down to get it and I looked up to say, “Thanks, Poppop.” I just knew in that moment we were both there like old times.
Time changes everything and we lose the ones we love. I guess nothing stays the same.
I was comforted knowing that the church, the tennis courts, and the house were still there for me to come back to from time to time.
But, I was deeply touched and consoled that this stranger who occupies the walls of the home I once loved so much, has kept my poppop’s garden growing. He changed so much about the house but he left that rectangular shaped veggie and fruit plot there to pass time and people.
Ahh, If only who knew how happy he made someone’s grand-daughter twenty –two years later.
Poppop would be proud, I know I was.
The new owner could have filled it in with dirt and grown grass, but instead he spread some more seeds and helped the garden of love continue to grow.
I got into the car and realized that you never can say goodbye to yesterday and why would you if it the past was so good?
One man that I loved so much left his mark in his garden and in our hearts, and a man that I didn’t even know kept the pride and hard work going.
If that’s not part of the circle of life, then I don’t know what is.
