Some places we can't go back to
One thing that my current trip has made clear is that we can't go back in time. I love my mom and she has always made me feel loved and cherished. Cared for me, given me the best advice she could, and generally been an awesome mom.
However, the mom I remember from 50 years ago isn't the mom I see today. The different places we lived in 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Langley, and Chilliwack are nothing more than memories now and this trip to my mom's house and seeing her current condition made me want to take pictures of the house she is living in now because someday this place too will be nothing more than memories.
Now another thing is clear. My days are numbered. In 22 years I'll likely be in the same position as my mother...providing I live that long. My health will fail, my body just won't keep up and my children may have to have the same talk that I had with my mom. The dreaded It's time talk.
So... I write this for my sons so they can have a picture set of "Grandma's House" .
for my youngest son
for my oldest son. I'm pretty sure my furriest son (Niko) won't care about pictures though.
I stole a picture of mom and her cat willie while she was dozing off :)
But here is my impression of Mom's house (Grandma's house) in 2026.
Now she lives in a place called Unity. It is a pretty nice place but really quiet and really really flat.
The winters are bright and cheery. Just remember it can get brutally cold so be prepared.
That is main street. Kind of quiet most times. Traffic that is easy to navigate. All the things you need but probably missing half the things you want.
But honestly I wanted to show you her house.
Upstairs Living room.
Look carefully and you will notice a gigantic semi circular couch that takes up the entire room so everyone can look at the faux fireplace / electric heater. More importantly there is the mechanical lazy boy which is her comfy place to sit and relax. Great for reading book which she likely falls asleep reading.
Dining and Kitchen area. A perfect little table for two to sit and chat and yes there is a little decorative fireplace in the corner out of the camera's view. She will likely be horrified that I caught the image with stuff on the countertops as she loves getting things cleaned up. However, life happens :)
The Kitchen area. Small but functional. Mostly. Many of the cupboards are too high for mom to reach. Indeed I've commandeered them for some items of my own. Unfortunately due to failing health mom no longer bakes and cooks like she used to.
The Laundry area. Mom wouldn't be mom unless she religiously washed her clothes every day. I think its a little crazy and you save money by doing one big load later. That's not my mom's style though. Also note decorations and cat stuff here. Willie's food, water, and litter box are here out of the shot.
The Stairs of doom. Now there is a lift to go down the stairs but when my mom bought the house I knew that the stairs were going to be a problem someday. Unfortunately that day is today. At the bottom of the stairs? Willie is getting older also and he barfed (sigh) so cleanup in progress.
The landing area downstairs. Mom loves decorating. I'm not too sure that the child and clock are necessary but here they are greeting you to the downstairs area.
The downstairs washroom. This washroom is tiny but mom made it cozy. Well, old pictures, inspirational quotes, warm towels and everything you would need to clean up.
A bedroom for refugee Christmas ornaments. Unfortunately due to her declining health Christmas didn't get packed up. It got hidden in the spare bedroom. Guess what my task is for the day.
Living room. My mom loves people and loves dinners with those people. Today she hosted an Easter dinner. This is a quiet cozy place to eat it. It doesn't get used much as food and carpets typically don't mix. Still, big comfy seats, a TV that rarely gets used and a walker so my mom can get around. Of course with wall coverings and knick knacks everywhere to show off her personal style.
The bar. Without a drop of alcohol. My mom loves pictures of family and farm style ornaments. There isn't a fridge in the bar either. It is however a good staging area for dinner with pies and such being held for dessert.
Just a view of the downstairs living room from a different angle.
A step back in time. That is what I call this room. The brown and golds remind me of a colour scheme from a time forgotten by most. Still it absolutely says comfort and grandma. A place where I can feel a bit of history that hasn't yet been forgotten. Sure its not modern and up to date, but then again, neither is mom. We still love her anyways. That's what vibe this room gives me.
alternative view so you can see it from both angles
A little more Christmas. Mom loves Christmas and Christmas decorations. I think I've lost a lot of the Christmas feel as I get older. Times are busier and connections are weaker. I miss the feel of Christmas in the 1970s and early 80s when there weren't so many distractions and more time to enjoy with family. These decorations remind me of a time before the internet and social media
A freezer. With lots of frozen meat inside. But totally unusable because of decorations on top. Well, decorations and a big container of deicing salt for the driveway and sidewalk.
This pretty much sums things up. Mom loves her house because it feels homey to her. She decorates it and makes it hers. Cozy and warm for anyone who comes. However, as her health fades it becomes less functional. The freezer isn't used for food anymore because she doesn't / can't cook.
Why I love Hive
Posts on Hive last. Posts on Hive are personal. Post on Hive are rarely flame bait and from what I've seen never go viral.
I would never post this on regular social media because I'd probably get a dozen posts saying how dated everything is, how tacky the wall quote are, and how I shouldn't let my mom live in a house that is dangerous to her. Plus hundreds more unsolicited pieces of advice.
On Hive? Maybe one or two people take a peek. If I get a comment I'll be surprised. However, I do know that this post can't be deleted. As love as Hive stays, so does this post. For a memory of my mom? For a memory of her home and what made her ... her. That's important to me. Hopefully my kids will see this someday too.
.... and maybe. Just maybe... her Great Grandchildren will have a chance to take a peek into Grandma's house.