Today is my BIRTHDAY!
When I was 7 years old, mother, father and I moved to what would be
their forever family home. Prior to that, as a baby/toddler, I lived
in a second floor flat in town with my mother and grandma, my father
still away serving in the Royal Air Force.
Later we moved to a prefabricated ('prefab') home - modern and
quite spacious - on one of many housing estates built to accommodate
the British people across the UK requiring homes following
World War II. It was there that I made my first friends and we all
went to school together.
To me, the new 'real' house, was a dream come true. Although small,
the semi-detached bungalow with three bedrooms, and great garden
areas front and back, and neighbors with children my age, was fabulous.
On a then very quiet road, more like a country lane, it was just a two
minute walk from the rolling, lush green Devon countryside, and a ten
minute bus ride to the seaside and beaches where I spent a lot of time.
Note, not many people had cars in those years! The year following
that move, along came my brother, eventually filling that third bedroom!
My childhood there was magical and my memories are still so clear.
With farms and fields to explore, my mother and I would pull on
our rubber 'wellies' to go gather mushrooms for breakfast in the early
morning dew - before the sweet-faced Jersey cows stomped on them!
We'd stop and buy fresh eggs from a farm.
On long summer days I spent hours learning the names of wildflowers,
native birds, climbing huge oak trees, and often on warm, sunny days
picnicking on a blanket and breathing in the fragrance of the rich red
clay soil, tall grass and flowers.
Oh, by the way, the bungalow house, where I lived until 1962 when I
emigrated to the USA. . . . . .was number 77 on our country road!
It's still there and I always stop and look at it when home for a visit.
Not much has changed other than the front garden being turned
into a parking lot now that people have cars! Not pretty as
when my mother planted many beautiful shrubs and flowers.
Somewhere, some years ago, I found this brass number. Probably at
one time it held a key to a locker, and with such a magical, to me,
number I had to have it. Today seems the perfect day to share it
with you as I celebrate yet another birthday. . . . . . . .bet you can
guess which one!!!
Birthday celebrations, like all celebrations this year, have to be
different. Mine will be quiet. As October leaves fall and the
nights turn chilly, I will just be thankful for another year under the
warmth and safety of my roof, and in good health. . . . . but ready for
cake, and a glass of bubbly later of course!
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