Back in 1983, when my family moved from this house, the tenancy still had almost 3 weeks to run. We moved out early because the house we were moving to was new-built, so it was lying empty waiting for us. We left the odd piece of furniture at our old address, to be collected at our leisure before our tenancy officially ended. During that period, although we were living in our new home, I'd now and then pop into our old one and sit on a wicker chair and gaze out of my old bedroom window at the sun going down on the horizon.
I knew I'd miss my old view, and never quite felt that I'd ever get used to the 'new' one. Well, as regular readers know, just over four years later, we returned to our former domicile and I was reunited with that view, and for the next 20 years, I seldom thought about the house we'd vacated, or the view from its bedroom window. Now, however, another 10 years down the line, I find myself recalling it with almost the same kind of fondness I had for the one I returned to. I find it strange that I immediately fell into the familiarity of my old view and never gave the 'new' one much thought - until relatively recently that is.
I just accepted being back in my old home to the extent that it almost felt as if I'd never been away. However, I looked out of my window tonight, and I think it was the first time since being back that I realised I'd taken it pretty much for granted. Tonight was the first time it'd struck me that the view I'm again so familiar with was once part of my past life, and not (for just over 4 years) my then-present one. I sometimes feel as if I only dreamt about living in another house, but now and again I'm reminded that, no - it was for real.
You know what? I reckon that if for some reason, I had to live in that house again, then I'd probably feel as if my 30 years back here were a dream, not the other way around. No real point to this by the way, I just thought I'd share with you the strange thoughts that can occur to a fella from glancing out his bedroom window.
(Originally published Tuesday July 4th 2017.)
6 comments:
House value - number of bedrooms; proximity to public amenities; location? For me, views are what houses should be valued on! A window view of a sunset is a real bonus, Kid! In the early 80s, my sister lived in a village in South Yorkshire. In the evening, as the sun was setting, the rear dining-room had spectacular light effects. A westward view's advantage. I saw those westward spectacular evening light effects again, in a care home my father was discharged into, a few weeks before he passed away. My present home is south-facing (technically south-west?). Good for some things, but garden birds are often 'back lit', sometimes hampering good photos. From a certain point in the garden, there's a view of a water tower about 7 miles away which, on a couple of days of the year, is very brightly illuminated by the evening sun. I mark those days on my calendar, to photograph this annual event. It's midsummer at Stonehenge, for some people - for me, it's that annual water tower 'light up'. Sad, eh?
Phillip
Not sad in the slightest, P, completely understandable - and relatable. Views are important, but curiously, for many years, I wasn't particularly interested in the views from any of the windows of the various houses I lived in - in most cases the 'scenes beyond the sills' didn't become important and appreciated until years after I'd moved elsewhere. Funny that, eh? Nostalgia, I guess.
To go off at a tangent, old-school (literally) classrooms had high windows - providing light, whilst preventing distractions from the outside world (?) Despite this, I always remember looking up (the school was recessed, below street-level) through the high windows of my final years junior school classroom, and seeing a Vauxhall Victor parked on the roadside. I always assumed it was my teacher's car ( but perhaps it wasn't! ) My teacher always called our classroom "the goldfish bowl", because everyone could look down into it, from street-level, I presume! As I spent two years (age just before 10, to aged 11) in that classroom, my nostalgic memories are still strong. That generation of teachers are mostly no longer with us.
Phillip
I was saddened to see that in my old primary school's last few years before it was demolished, once-bright classrooms with commanding views of the surrounding scenery, had the windows covered with something (from the inside) to prevent them 'functioning' as windows, or replaced with opaque glass, resulting in the classrooms being claustrophobic. Such a shame.
Interesting? Windows and views are one aspect of experiencing nostalgia, but the driving factor is your mental attachments to the properties, which initially gave you an overwhelming feeling of personal solace and security in your younger years. They are key milestones, back when you were the most happiest, your own domain of control! The only place that you could be you, and feel safe. Basically they are imotional havens, from a very harsh and disfunctional world, we all have them Kid. Unfortunately most have only memories now, you still at least, own one of the original physical properties, with all your families spiritual presence. 'Enjoy your, HOME!'
I do, AAW, I really do - but I miss my other homes and would like to enjoy them as well. (Which I do, I suppose, but only in memory.)
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