I was going to make this a comment adding to Matthew’s comment about how he’s wanted to tour 224 Marble Drive for the memories. But now that I think about it I would like to make it a post where people can add their memories of wherever/whatever gives them that warm sense of nostalgia.
I've wanted to go back and check it out as well (224 Marble Drive). I've driven past it and found it funny the different perspective I have on things. I mean literally. The steep hills I used to try and conquer on my bike are really just little bumps. It’s weird to think that Austin is making memories that he will look back on with nostalgia. He’s only 4 but I can remember parts of being 4. Man the memories from 224 marble drive; Earthquake sand and hunting dragons with Aaron, swimming with the family, the tree house, playing with Lego’s, watching Smurfs on Saturday morning before soccer games… I could go on.
I get the same feeling for 2163 Concord Ave but not as strong. I wonder why that is. Maybe because I was older and things were less magic to me as I hit my teenage years. I really enjoyed my childhood, pains and all. Sometimes I miss it, the camping, and the adventures at black diamond. I really don’t know if there are more nostalgic places for me than the following:
-Black Diamond
-Mackerricher
-Redds Meadow
-Saddle Bag Lake in the Tent trailer
What are your places of nostalgia?
7 comments:
Black Diamond is definitely at the top of my list. That place in the springtime speaks to my soul. It is like I was born there, like I can gain peace clarity and energy from the land there. Especially looking over the valley from the top of star mine trail or vice versa from the top of stewartville Really may be my favorite place on earth. The others you mentioned are also very close to my heart. Red's and Saddlebag and Mchkerriker (sp?).
Some memories from Marble. Making clay golems in the basement. Making it all the way to the end of the upper attic. Exploring the hole that led under the deck. Digging the hole to china in the sandpile. Looking over the fence from the tree into the neighbor's yard. Getting on the roof from the access point at the deck and jumping off onto the grass, (after we had thrown our cabbage patch kids to their deaths). Christmas in the living room, Christmas in the family room and jumping off the bookshelf, (don't remember the time I missed though.) Also washcloths warming on the old furnace thing so as to have comfortable bum cleanings. (is this even a real memory, if it ever happened it is likely I remember it for other siblings?)
The "new houses" and all the "treasures" I found there, such as the sticky foam stuff on windows.
BYU is kind of like this now. If I go back I can remember good times had there.
Well that is enough reminiscing for now.
I remember putting ice on the stove and watching it dance and bubble into steam. I also remember putting washcloths on it but not for bum cleanings although maybe mom was changing a diaper and I was too enthralled by the sizzle sound and steam. I must have been 4 years old putting ice on that thing. Would I ever let Austin near something like that?
Black Diamond in the spring is magical but even in the summer and winter months it is special. What did/does it for me every time is when you are at the top of one of the trails mentioned by Matthew and you see a breeze or a gust of wind causing the tall grass to wave then it hits you. That to me is heaven. Its interesting to me, there was a regional park like Black Diamond close to where Heidi and I lived in Martinez. And although it was beautiful, although the hills looked the same with the same oak trees and wild flowers and had gusts of wind, it didn’t feel the same, it never gave me that quiet calm that Black Diamond does every time. What is that?
The hole to China was fun. I remember it being so huge, but again referring to my perspective, it probably wasn’t that big. I remember having trouble getting out of it though. My best memory of that hole was the night Aaron tried to hide it (maybe mom or dad told him it was enough and to fill it in) We covered it with boards and covered them with sand. I remember thinking how covert we were in the dark and seeing mom doing the dishes through the kitchen window. Our work must not have been too professional looking because the next day the hole was filled in. Who filled it in anyway?
I agree with BYU, it does it for me too.
What I remember most about Black Diamond is the Swallows nest area and the Odit. I remember cooking hot dogs and roasting marshmallows and always searching for various mushrooms. One time I was dared by some older siblings to go the back of the Odit by myself and clang the gate. I got half way there and froze for what seemed like forever. Finally I got up the courage to run and bang the Gate but by the time I ran out everyone was eating and playing and had forgotten all about the dare. No glory for little Meghan. ha ha. I remember Michael teaching me how to do the hollow sounding whistle with my hands and when I got it down I was oh so proud of myself.
Of course Reds Meadow with the tall trees and endless fish. I remember pine cone races with Joseph being a lot of fun. I didn't like sleeping in the tent trailer all that much because I remember getting sternly told never to touch the dewy tent roof and it dripping all over me. But classic stories like Krista tagging a bear will never be forgotten.
MacKerricher was so great with all the mussles you could eat and dying trying to get to them! I loved the tide pools and finding the cutest little abalone shells imaginable. I wish I had those still.
I would have to add Great America to this list. Us younger kids probably got taken more but I remember having season passes a few years in a row when I was still too young to go on Top gun but would sneak on anyway! I was about 6 inches too short and got in major trouble by the attendant a couple of times. Didn't Michael get kicked out of the park once because they accused him of spitting off the air trains? I loved that place.
A couple of restaurants I would like to add are Benihana and Fentons. I think I was taken to Benihana for my birthday every year as far back as I can remember. Fentons was a magical parlor of wonder for me as a child. I smiled so big when I saw that cute little shop at the end of Disney/Pixars Up.
As for marble drive I don't remember much but I do remember getting washed off after being spray painted by our crazy neighbor's daughter!
I'd have to add the supra-tree line mountains of the Sierra Nevada... especially Conness. I love that climb. The perfect day up there is 70-75 degrees with a hot sun from the thin atmosphere warming me up after a dip into a green blue lake with glacial ice around it's edges. Not another soul for as far as the eye can see. The crunch of shale beneath my feet and the micro foliage in bloom coming into focus as I lay on a warm rock.
Does anyone remember the dragon rocks? They got buried with houses back behind marble drive, we used to explore the cow mowed hills and rock formations out there...one time Matthew found an Indian penny by and old rusty truck.
Swallows Nest - loved the pine tree there that had pine nuts in it.
The red rocky hill on chaparral loop.
Jims Place - out on this hike there was also an awesome tree beard. We'd find hobbit trails and Ents all over Black Diamond.
The Byron Hotel - great place to sneak around at night.
Orwoods - I remember packing up to 4 of us on the motorcycle to ride out there on gravel back roads with shorts and a T-shirt on wishing the piece of junk could hit 100MPH. Train jumps were awesome as well as that tree just down the tracks.
The big hill - what a pain that was to ride up.
7-11 on the way to school every morning after cutting through the field by the hospital. Garbage Pail kids and candy, and Round Table Pizza on the way home to get in a little excite bike. There was some game at 7-11 that we played too with a knight.
Yes, the dragon's backbones. I still think that's what they could be. They were awesome. 7-11 was fun but I only have vague memories of it and wishing I had money for stuff.
2163 Concord Ave, the only home I knew before I came to college. My favorite memory is diving for money and how you big kids would help me get the coins that were just too deep for me to reach
Black Diamond is my favorite place but the Odit is always the best. I loved when dad used to make noises at the entrace and scare me half to death when I tried to prove that I was just as brave as the big kids and reach the end on my own. I remember dad and you boys and even Meg carrying me on their shoulders when I got tired and then years later me doing the same for the new little ones. Black Diamond is magical and it always will be.
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