How Mary Got Her Groove Back

I have come to understand that from this day forward, I must live in an old house. No, I didn’t say “crusty, musty.” I guess I should have said, “Historic,” and that designation is one that is so designated based on when I was born. Okay, so I’ve seen my childhood toys in antique stores, but guess what people, they are not antiques to me!

     Yep, that’s right. An historic house has brought me back to life. I now know how my mom felt, when she walked into our Folk Victorian duplex in Ft. Leavenworth. That woman ooed and ahhhed over the original window and door moldings, the hardwood floors in every room, the balusters on the staircase, the wide landing at the top of the stairs (my landing is mid stair case-it’s fabulous!), the clawfoot tubs, I mean nothing escaped her awe.

     At age seven, I could not see what the big whoop was, other than the instant friends we had in the other side of our house. All we had to do was walk out the door and there they were. Instant friends.

     I have already met three houses of neighbors on our street. This is more than I met in the 20 years of living in my previous house. I am out of practice with how to be “neighborly.” No, I am not out of practice with how to be friendly and talk to people, just in the art of neighborliness. I did sign up for and am receiving the online bulletin for the small city in which I live. Fascinating. The things that people post remind me of when I go researching on newspapers.com and read about the “local goings on” in the early 1900’s.

      My house was built in 1898 and was first owned by a woman! I found the records in my delight of online research. Then, of course, I went searching for more information about the woman and have so far come up blank. Oh, I am still digging! This was the first house built in this community.

      Now, the history of the land, is of course, beyond devastating and sad. It was “plantation land” at one point owned by the Calvert family and not only did they own the land, they owned people. They enslaved people. When I step out into my yard, I wonder what is beneath the layers of soil, and how many stories  will never be told, and lay silent.

      It’s the way my mind and heart work. So, how is this helping me get my groove back? I am now part of the history of the house and of the land, and I plan to honor the land with flowers, herbs and vegetable plants. I am thankful each night that my daughter found this house and that we are the caretakers of this amazing classic four-square.

      When I turn down my street each day after work, I am home and it feels welcoming, peaceful and yes, it’s still full of boxes of items still needing to be opened and places identified for each item. Yes, yes, I still need to hang our massive amount of artwork. Okay, okay, the lawn needs mowing again. I am okay with all of that. Because…I am home.

     With the death of both of parents this past March, I truly felt unmoored. And yes, it still hits me like an icepick to the heart, and I am home. It is comprised of things I have purchased over the years, paintings I have rendered, things that are my daughter’s, treasures she has acquired over the years and artwork she has created.

      It is soon to contain some of the furniture from my parent’s house and my grandparent’s house. (both maternal and paternal). We also have a portrait of my daughter’s great grandparents, who lived in Ukraine. The portrait was bright to the United States by one of their daughters (my daughter’s great grandmother) in the original oval frame and with the original bow front glass. I had it restored for her a few years ago for her 21^st birthday by a former Smithsonian conservator. Wolf (a rabbi) and his wife Ida now hang in our living room.

      I am out of the “too much awareness of everything I do” stage. Wow, that stage did not last long at all! Truly, this shocks me. I feel a calm, a joy and an anticipation I did not have.

       Oh, a little update on my book and book events! I will post everything soon, but as the date draws closer (Dec. 3) I have more magazine interviews, and I am super excited that The University of Maryland is going to highlight me as an alumni and my book in both their online weekly newsletter and also an upcoming issue of their print magazine.  I reached out to them. I had no expectations. I am thrilled!

     No, life is not perfect. It occurs to me, that I shall spend the rest of it as “Party of One.” I am too set in my ways for any other relationship other than friendship. Do you think if I go in my backyard and yell, “FREEDOM!” the neighbors will call the police? Best not to take that chance.

     Mary got her groove back. Mary still has lots to do. Mary is kicking butts and taking names. Oh, wait, this isn’t Texas. Ummm….I’m just really, really happy and content.

      Thank you for reading. So, dear reader, what’s your status? Do you have your groove back? Did you ever lose it? Are you searching for it? Let know below. You know, I truly love, love, love the stories of others. That reminds me, if I haven’t recommended it to you yet, I recommend the book “The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening" by Ari Shapiro. I could not put it down.