Yes, the house sale in Margate I went to yesterday was at 615 N. Delavan, where my twin and her family had lived 35 years ago. To my surprise, the owner, Carol, immediately recognized Betty's name, saying she had occasionally seen her over the years. I was also surprised to learn that Carol is SIL to Trudy, who was Betty's next door neighbor on Atlantic Avenue, and whom I remember well.
The house is a split-level and Carol and her husband added another whole level for a master bedroom. Carol invited me to come up and see it. It's a huge suite, covering the entire floor. However, they seem to have done very little to the rest of the house since they bought it in 1972. The rec room is still panelled (and it's seen better days), the kitchen looks the same and, aside from paint, it's more or less as it was when Betty and Wes lived there. Carol said it was under contract, so maybe the new owners will renovate.
I have such good memories of that house and the many family gatherings there. The priceless movie Wes recently shared of Easter at 615 North--it has to be more than 40 years ago--took place in that living room. Big Wes was there, and Mom and Aunt Maggie, and our little children, the oldest of whom, Patrick, now approaching 50, was 7 or 8. Where did it all go? Where did they all go?
After chatting with Carol and glancing at the things she had for sale--mostly dismal modern furniture I wouldn't take as a gift--I left a little hurridly. I love and revere the past, but I can't stay there too long or I get melancholy.
I went over to Hamilton Mall to run a few errands, picked up a nice chicken to roast for dinner, and eased myself back to the 21st century. All those little chores and errands, all the minutia, all the things that seem so important at the time (Will the dress fit? Does the plant need water? Did the cake rise?) are what makes us human, it seems to me.
I do like to visit the long-ago, but the present is where I live and I'm glad to be home.