The landlords, a sweet elderly couple originally from Denmark and who still spoke with their strong Danish accents, lived on one side of the first floor of the old craftsman-type home, like the kind one used to be able to purchase from a Sear's catalog. A young pastor and his wife and baby lived in the apartment on the other side of the main floor. Two male college students occupied the apartment directly opposite the apartment of the couple on the second floor.
They were college newlyweds ready to begin their life together and excited about moving into their own furnished apartment, albeit the furnishings were quite old, even some antique. They felt fortunate to be able to rent a place within their budget of $50 a month, even if it did have the oldest squeakiest box springs ever! It was home, their first home where they watched in disbelief replay after replay of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and where they made homemade Christmas ornaments for their first Christmas together a month later.
I have a feeling, there's some autobiographical basis for this story. First home, first married, first Christmas together. Lovely memories. On a side note - You could purchase a home through the Sears catalog? I know their line of tools are called Craftsman. Is that why? Do tell.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking this too...this leads to all kinds of questions
DeleteYes, it is autobiographical, and yes the Craftsman home could be bought through the Sear's catalog. They had a lot of different homes. The buyer had to build them or have them built by someone else.
DeleteVal, see my answer to Zoe. I'm not sure if the Craftsman tools came first, before Sear's offered the homes.
DeleteOoh, Val's question is interesting - about Sears and the Craftsman name. Love Craftsman style homes and have been watching shows about them on HGTV or something lately.
ReplyDeleteVery sweet story.
I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I remember when we got married, how my father-in-law said the best tools were the Craftsman tools.
DeleteThis was wonderful and it just has to be something from your treasure chest of precious memories! I remember that shocking news that we all watched over and over, stunned. I also believe that those early times of making do with what we had were the most precious. None of us would ever have guessed where our lives would take us in the decades to come.
ReplyDeleteIt is from my treasure chest of precious memories! You are so right about not knowing where our lives would take us in the future.
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