We took trip to Logan a couple of weeks ago so that Miles and Erin could get some things done on campus and decided to spend the night in Provo with hopes of visiting family the next day including Brooke but Miles ended up getting sick and we went home earlier than planned. That morning however I decided to go for a run up to BYU campus and when I got closer couldn't help but go a little further to see one of my most favorite homes --1120 Elm. I had Miles take a quick picture before we left Provo. I'm pretty sure it's had some remodeling since Grandpa and Grandma Hansen lived there - like the glass block window in the kitchen that has been removed and bricked over and the porch looks different to me. Anyway, I know many of the sibblings might not remember much about this house but I sure loved to visit. I loved the smell of finish stripper in the garage and seeing all those piano parts waiting to be refinished. I remember the hand painted flower trim by Grandma in the downstairs bathroom on the walls and drawer fronts. We had fun watching a slinky go down the stairs that led to Uncle Lynn's room. I miss playing with the giant magnifying glass on Grandpa's desk and laying on the floor over one of the vents to keep warm while reading Little Black Sambo or some other kids book. Grandma was an accomplished artist and she always had an Aisle with a canvas painting she seemed to be working on in their upstairs bedroom. I remember getting into her insulin syringes upstairs and using them to squirt water on things we probably shouldn't have. The water running down the ditch in front of the house was perfect for the boat races we had. Some of the best cherries around were right in the backyard in that tree next to the shed. I miss going on morning walks with Grandpa Hansen through that neighborhood where everyone seemed to keep their yards so neat and clean and the air always seemed to smell so fresh. The first thing you would see when walking through the front door was that beautiful grand piano and just around the corner was the organ that was loads of fun with all the stops and buttons and pedals to experiment with. I miss hearing mom play that piano while Grandpa sang but I know mom has several recordings somewhere and when you get back from Brazil I want to get a copy. The young men provided the sacrament meeting in our ward today and they each spoke about their mothers and did an awesome job and was very entertaining listening to the things they came up with. Well I love my mommy, Oh yes I do, Yadee Yahoo!! Mom you're the best and I wished I could have snuck into your apartment in Brazil while you were sleeping and jump in the shower and surprise you and give you a giant hug. I hope all you sisters and sisters in law have a terrific day cause ya'all deserve the very bestest.
8 comments:
Thanks for posting this David! Ditto on the happy mother's day to all of the sisters and sisters in law, and Mom.
Hey, i don't remember ALL of the things you mention, because Grandpa died when I was just in 2nd grade and his funeral was the last time i was in that house, but I do remember a lot of the things you mention. The fresh smells; the cherries and what (to me) seemed like an enormous and productive garden; boat races and playing in the gutter water; the slinky on the stairs; the piano and organ; sitting over a vent reading Little Black Sambo; grandpa's den & desk & typewriter; & lighting snakes (July 4th) on grandpas porch steps.
I drove by their house several times when I lived in Provo, just to see what it looked like. Also went past grandpa and grandma's grave site a couple times. I thought those trips to Provo when we were kids were some fun family vacations. ---Scott
David, Kathy wants to know what's up with that big orange cone? (she's a nut). --Scott
And I've stopped by there, too, to take a walk down memory lane when I've visited Provo. Ditto to all those memories. I'll add: eating peas from their garden, tasting the sour crab-apples, stoking the fire with grandpa's 'billows' (sp?), trying to be brave down in the basement and funny you mention that magnifying glass on grandpa's desk. He was a good sport for allowing us to experiment with it. I thought their kitchen nook was a cool place to eat meals and they always had someone's wedding invitation up on their bulletin board. Glad to see the house now. It looks smaller than I remember! Funny how that happens as we age.
Jana
OK David, this post really got to me. How to make mother cry on mother´s day - but......
Yes, Jana, it looks smaller to me too, but probably it´s the picture that doesn´t show the garage side of the house.
Man, I can´t believe you kids remember so much. Only the older ones in the family would remember, and I think we had Becky´s 5th birthday party up in Grandma´s bedroom because she couldn~t get out of bed. That is about the last time we were there, then 6 months later Grandpa passed away, and the following summer we took Grandma with us to live in Coolidge. That house was where we set up our wedding reception, but it rained so hard the mosquitos came out, and we moved it to the church near there. My favorite part of the house was the organ, and the forsythia bushes in back, and the cherry tree. Oh, yes, the garage too because that is where I helped put on the keys to the piano, which is now ready for the morgue. Yes, the basement was narrow and a bit scary for little kids.
Thanks for the memories, my sweet kids. I love you all. Mom
PS. Dad remembers the trampoline pit where he jumped high, did a sit down on the way down, and hurt his tail bone on the ice underneath. He was sick for about a week after that. And Uncle Lynn was eight when we were engaged, and Dad shot him with a dart gun,on the stairs inside-- and Lynn got in trouble from Grandpa instead of Dad.
I remember dating your mother and how fun it was to go there on Sunday´s for a cooked roast with all the fixins. Grandpa and mom singing and playing with such inspiring music. The organ was fun for me to play even though I don't play well. But I could sit on the bench and pretend. Grandpa usually sat with a book three inches from his face to read. The large magnifying glass was an experience for me. I thought how silly to have such a large thing, now, however, I need one as I need something to help when I read. Grandpa waited on grandma and treated her like a queen. She loved her grandchildren and would have been such a fun person to have with us now to watch you grandchildren achieve. And talk about the great grandchildren. She would have loved in her quiet way to hold them and read stories to them. Most of all, your grandparents loved the Lord with all their hearts. Were so supportive of the prophet. Never a negative comment from their mouths. I do not know how they did it. I loved them both as much as I loved my own parents. Maybe that is why we (Mom and I) the way we do about all of your inlaws. We feel very blessed to have all our sons-in-laws and daughters-in-laws. It is amazing to me, we visit with senior couples that are amazed that Mom is looking for Brazilian souvenirs for ALL her daughters. They never gave one thought for their daughter-in-laws. Sad isn´t it? We love all of you and are thankful for the sealing covenants. P.S. I didn't shoot Uncle Lynn with a dart gun, I threw a dart at him instead of the dart board. They actually stick real well in the behind!
Wow, I've wanted a picture of the house for a long time. That was really sweet of you David... perfect Mother's Day present.
So cool Davd! What fun memories we have there. I remember all those things too, but I never really liked the cherries once barbara found worms in them. I do remember Grandpa letting me help dig for the potatoes. THat was so fun. I remember trying to sneak down into the basement too and wondering why on earth it was so dark and scary and how could anyone live down here. I loved the walkway from uncle lynn's bedroom to grandma's bedroom. And, wasn't her bedroom the most gigantic room you had ever seen? I loved her long blue velvet couch sitting just under her bedroom window. I think it was blue. It's true, that little black sambo book was read constantly when we were there. The ditch, the garden the organ buttons, the thick green glasses in the kitchen, the smell in the provo air, (probably stands out in our memory so much because we were used to smelling stuffy, dirty coolidge air) lots of memories Grandma and Grandpa Hansen!!!
Good one David! Love you too mom, happy mothers day.
Wow, cool post guys. I, like Scott, remember lighting snakes on the porch. They always made a big ol honkin black mark on the concrete. I also remember the huge ICE Sickles that grew over the rain gutters. Being from Coolidge, that was someting we never saw until we came up to Utah. I also remember looking into their freezer and sneaking a couple of double-stick popsickles,(usually orange cause everyone ate all the good ones first)and using the sticks for boats. The curb & gutter seemed to go for miles. My boat was the fastest. The cherry tree was so dang cool too. There were hundreds of them smashed on the ground, and I liked climbing up the base to get to the good ones.
I don't however, remember the piano or organ. Maybe that is why I never really learned to play. I guess it just wasn't my thing. Good post David Morris - and happy belated Mothers day to all you women. We're lucky to have such a cool fam with parents setting an example in Brazil. Are you still spreading the goonews?
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