Memories....this is where we made 'em. In our favorite stateside abode, 57 Holly Oak Drive in Voorhees, New Jersey. We moved here after a 2 year idyllic stint in Bintulu, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. That was another time, another place as well. Lost Tree was a great neighborhood with plenty of girls (and boys in Taylor's case) our girls' ages to start lasting friendships. Taylor entered Kindergarten, Erika second grade, and Annemarie 4th. There was a cement half basketball court on which the girls learned to ride bikes, play basketball (of course) and roller skate. The basement was good for roller skating as well and playing library. Plenty of trees meant plenty of leaves in the fall to rake and have fun playing in as they piled up. Snow was welcome too as there was a great place to sled across the street. They learned how to swim at the local swim clubs, played soccer on all boy teams as soccer was just being introduced then, started piano lessons, and Annemarie flute, Erika, clarinet. Performed with the local theater group in The Music Man, ballet lessons, Girl Scouts. Yes, those were the days.
After 5 years, we left 57 to go to Saudi Arabia fortunately not selling the house but having someone housesit. I say fortunately as the Gulf War interrupted our stay and the girls and I came home the following year in August in time for school to begin. This time Annemarie was starting HS, Erika was in Jr High, and Taylor in 5th grade. Their former classmates welcomed them as did their neighborhood friends. It didn't take long to get back in the routine. At school's conclusion, we flew back to Saudi to rejoin Sneed who had remained there. It wasn't long before our new assignment came...we were relocating to...Texas. We bid a fond adieu to 57 in August 1991. Thanks to my good friend, Judy, who still lives around the corner from 57, we got this photo of our old abode blanketed in some recent snow. The memories came flooding back.
That was my favorite house too!! I remember the steep driveway, skating down it and trying not to fall at the end, skating around the basement too to the sounds of Michael Jackson's BAD album, the huge empty hole across the street, the walk to Jr High and short drive to EHS, painting the mailbox, and playing Barbies with the Nihill girls in their basement next door.
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