I’m in a quandry. I need something to put my tv on that will also house my cable box, dvd player, etc. I’ve been looking for just the right thing for several years now and can’t seem to bite the bullet and buy something. I was thinking about that today and how I simply need to find a cherry chest. “A cherry chest?” you say. Yes, a cherry chest. That’s what my family growing up called the piece of furniture our tv sat on.
I’m not sure why it’s called the cherry chest as it has no cherries on it. I think because it must be made out of cherry and since everything else in our house was oak (it was the 80s/90s so country was very in, people), it became known as the cherry chest.
Much like the arm chair in the living room was the peacock chair. “The peacock chair?” you say. Yes, because, you guessed it, it had peacocks on it. In fact, even after my mom recovered it in floral, we stilled called it the peacock chair. We’d say things like, “has anyone seen my shoes?” and the response might be, “well, yes, yes I did. I saw them under the peacock chair.” See, simple, huh?
I’m telling you, this is what I was thinking on the hour and half car ride home today. Why, you ask? I’m not sure. But then it made me think of my grandparents. Why? Again, there’s no explaining this mind of mine. But, I did want to give a shout out to my grandparents so I’ll take the time to do that now.
Papa and Grandma (hi, guys!) read my blog every day. In the beginning (when Ryan was first diagnosed in utero) my mom and her dad and mom (my papa and grandma) would be on their weekly phone conference and she’d say something about the baby. Papa or Grandma would correct her and inevitably say something like, “didn’t you read the blog? It’s on the blog.” Or, I’d get an email from one of my aunts or cousins saying, “I hope you don’t mind that Papa gave us your website.”
I love it. I love that my 87 yr. old grandfather is keeping up with technology. It doesn’t surprise me though. Papa was a fighter pilot training for WWII back in the forties when he met Grandma. They met at a dance, but don’t tell the Southern Baptists. She was Assembly of God, I think. And you know how those Assembly of God folk like to dance.
Anywho, he swept her off her feet, she was 17 at the time and I’m not sure how old he was… maybe you can tell me Papa in the comments section. (to comment, just click on the little, itty bitty word ‘comment’ at the bottom of this post and type in what you want to say. There may be a little box that asks you to type in a funny looking word to verify you want to comment. Do that too. Don’t forget to sign your name in your comment so I know it’s you since I’m guessing you’ll be commenting as anonymous. Then click what ever button lets you post.)
Papa was never deployed, he missed the action by a year or two – was still in training I think at the end. The happy couple moved from New Mexico (where Papa was stationed) to Western New York to live near Papa’s family. Poor grandma was 17, had never lived away from home and now found herself across the country in an unfamiliar place.
They still live in the same area of New York. We loved going there as kids and even now I wish I was able to go more often. Sorry I haven’t visited recently – it’s been quite hectic. And I don’t know when I’ll get up there again. I’m too afraid to travel that far with Ryan before his heart surgery in August. (Speaking of that, Ryan’s surgery is scheduled on Papa’s 88th birth day!) I miss you guys and think of you a lot.
Grandpa worked for IBM for years. They would tell him an idea and he would go make the prototype of it for them to test out. After he retired, he opened a little lawn equipment sales and repair shop that he and my uncle still run. I think he might be semi-retired now – just goes out to harass the customers and hook into the internet to read my blog… I can see him sitting on his stool. From the house, you can access the garage (that’s what we call the shop) from a side door and you weave though a narrow passage way lined with storage shelves containing all kinds of parts till you get to the main work room. I remember one time I weaved my way through there and saw Papa working at the computer. He didn’t see me and I took a picture of him sitting there, doing his thing. I love that picture.
I remember so much about coming to see you. I remember how Papa smells like a mix of oil and gasoline. Seems strange to like that smell, but anytime I step into a mechanic’s shop, I immediately think of Papa and miss the two of you.
I remember Grandma making us porcelain dolls every year for Christmas until I was probably 10 (there grew to be quite too many grandchildren by that time to keep up with) and how the two of you would work together in the dining room putting them together. Grandma filling the molds and baking them in the oven, then making the clothes by hand while Papa literally put them together with elastic string and screws. When she asked me what I wanted for my high school graduation, I immediately said, “A doll.” I still have them all.
How about the summer there were tons of tree frogs the size of an adult thumb everywhere. I remember they died the same week they hatched (or whatever frogs do), but we kids didn’t care. We still collected them by the handful. And swimming in your pool and playing in the woods and the cemetery and the train track (for those of you concerned parents, the track was inactive).
Oh my goodness… life was so simple then. Writing this makes me miss you all the more. Please know that I love you; that I would come see you if I could. I hate to miss this July 4th “back home” as mom says. Last July when I was there, I knew I was pregnant – six weeks along in fact. If I’d have known then what life would be like now, I probably would’ve stayed a week just to make sure to cram more time in with you. I’m so glad you can see us through the computer…that you can see my kids growing up and know my thoughts. I love you so so much. Take care! Oh, and keep mom up to date on the happenings, she still doesn’t have time to get on here much. : )
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (9)
that was so wonderful! how blessed you are to still have them here on this earth and reading your blog everyday! I can’t imagine my G readign my blog… she would just crack up if she could see all the pics and funny things the kids do. It is such an amzign thing, these blogs, they make everyone feel so close even when they are so far away.
I loved traveling (in my mind) with you down memory lane. Did that make sense??
I treasure the times I am able to go to new york. I am so happy that my kids are able to scratch papa’s back and experience some of the joys. Like the steps that everyone likes to play on in grandma’s house. Thanks for the trip back to our childhhood.
I loved that trip too! Thanks Leighann, that brought back some good memories for me. I also wish I could make it back this year! I am glad you have this blog and everybody is on Facebook, so we can all keep up with our cousins, aunts & uncles, etc when we are all in different states.
-cousin Kelly
Ooooo, the steps! The front steps or the back steps to the kitchen? Doesn’t matter, huh? We loved playing on both. 🙂
Sounds like your Papa, and my Pappy would have liked each other a lot.
Now on to this cherry chest. Could you draw out what exactly you want? Because I might be able to wrangle a certain handy engineer into making something. he’s slow, but patient and detail oriented. Not slow like he’s addled in the brain (i swear that’s not what I meant honey), slow as in it takes a while, but the work is good.
What a beautiful post!!!! I wish I got to know my grandparents!
What an awesome memory Leighanne, how sweet of you to write all that down. Your kids will be able to tell their grandkids the story as we now have so much technology to record these things. How awesome that your grandparents are able to actually keep up with your blob, and one day when we are all called up to sit with our heavenly father you will see them all the time.
This entry brings tears to my eyes every time I read it! Oh, the joys of our childhood!! I was good till you happened to mention the smell of oil and gasoline…gets me every time! I still get the same feelings of nostalgia. You took me back like it was yesterday… I hope to get “back home” this 4th of July. I love to see all the family and reminisce about the fun times at the cemetary, playing on the steps and in the woods, and watching Grandma and Papa at work. (I still treasure my dolls too!) My sisters and I also had the advantage of having our other Grandma living just down the road. We still talk about the fun times we shared there as well! Just the other day, Sarah and I were talking about “painting rocks” (with water of all things)…haha! I hope all of our children have such wonderful memories of playing with their cousins at their grandparents (and great-grandparents) houses! Some of my best memories ever!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Leighann…hope you are all well! Love you!!
P.S. The above entered comment is from your absent-minded cousin, Richelle. But you probably guessed that!