Somehow your stories bring tears to my eyes. I know what you mean about feeling like a giant in the house you were in as a child. Hopefully the secret door was still there!
Thank you so much. And yes, the door was still there. Wes's father made it so we could travel faster between his bedroom and where the model train was set up in the Bonus Room, as it was called back then.
(this is Shelley, not Betty!). I did the same thing at my grandmother's house in SF. I said "Hey I used to spend loads of time in that house when I was a kid ". The owner (who was washing his car outside) said, "Are you Shelley?" "YES!! I am." "Come in! You have to see this!" And 55 years later, written in chalk on the basement wall it still said Shelley loves Brant with a heart around it. I wrote it when I was 10! And all the owners of the house left it there.
This is Betty, Shelley uses my account.🤪 Shelley’s Grandma, Tilly Brill, who I knew, built the house in SF in the Richmond District after the depression . Brant, the boy love object, was really cute. He'd be 68 by now 👨🏻🦳. I will forward your response. I’m glad a follower asked about the trap door still being around.😁. Keep those stories coming!
I love how the secret door to the bonus room was also the secret entryway to the woman's trust - a different bonus room, and thereby entry to the house. You often characterize things, so truly, as both this and that. In this case it's both too much info and too little that you gave the woman about your family. And as Meaganne points out, there is so much in that final line. Another beautiful, and beautifully told, memoiry.
So sweet! Echoing what Meaganne just said, I hope the secret door and bonus room are still there just like you remembered them. And how would Wes feel about that?
Thank you, Elvis. I called Wes immediately after this happened, and he actually helped me on this story, reminding me of all his family members. There is a chapter devoted to Wes and his family in the "Toughen Up" podcast coming later this year. Stay tuned.
Excellent. I want to hear more.
Somehow your stories bring tears to my eyes. I know what you mean about feeling like a giant in the house you were in as a child. Hopefully the secret door was still there!
Thank you so much. And yes, the door was still there. Wes's father made it so we could travel faster between his bedroom and where the model train was set up in the Bonus Room, as it was called back then.
(this is Shelley, not Betty!). I did the same thing at my grandmother's house in SF. I said "Hey I used to spend loads of time in that house when I was a kid ". The owner (who was washing his car outside) said, "Are you Shelley?" "YES!! I am." "Come in! You have to see this!" And 55 years later, written in chalk on the basement wall it still said Shelley loves Brant with a heart around it. I wrote it when I was 10! And all the owners of the house left it there.
I love this so much! What a question...are you Shelley? I love all the home owners leaving it alone...out of respect for love? I hope so.
This is Betty, Shelley uses my account.🤪 Shelley’s Grandma, Tilly Brill, who I knew, built the house in SF in the Richmond District after the depression . Brant, the boy love object, was really cute. He'd be 68 by now 👨🏻🦳. I will forward your response. I’m glad a follower asked about the trap door still being around.😁. Keep those stories coming!
Thanks, Betty. Will do! Best to Brant.
Such a gem of a story! I love the specifics and your subtle ‘takedown of the city planners’. More, please!
Thanks, Kyle!
One of my favorites so far.. but then again they are all little gems.. keep writing, you are so good at it and it is so fun to tag along
Thank you, Dorothy! More on the way.
I love how the secret door to the bonus room was also the secret entryway to the woman's trust - a different bonus room, and thereby entry to the house. You often characterize things, so truly, as both this and that. In this case it's both too much info and too little that you gave the woman about your family. And as Meaganne points out, there is so much in that final line. Another beautiful, and beautifully told, memoiry.
Thank you so much, Meg. I appreciate your insights. Truly.
So sweet! Echoing what Meaganne just said, I hope the secret door and bonus room are still there just like you remembered them. And how would Wes feel about that?
Thank you, Elvis. I called Wes immediately after this happened, and he actually helped me on this story, reminding me of all his family members. There is a chapter devoted to Wes and his family in the "Toughen Up" podcast coming later this year. Stay tuned.
My pleasure and that's great to hear! The hype is real...