i am taking the opportunity today to share with you an extraordinary family from my childhood. this beautiful couple just celebrated their 50th anniversary. in response, a request was sent out from their youngest child for friends to send her parents memories, stories and thoughts they would like to share with them on this special occasion. i was motivated by this gentle coax and took the opportunity to sit down, reminisce, and lovingly express my long overdue thankfulness for their heartfelt influence not only during my younger years but continuing throughout my life. please enjoy this peek into a carefree 60's childhood in suburban america where neighbors were family.....
A Tribute to Parke and Karen on Their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Early in my elementary school years, a most fantastical event came to life within the walls of 11804, the dark and vacant house conveniently set directly across the street from mine. A new family had moved in! Kneeling at the bay window of our living room, comfortable in my clear but hidden vantage point at 11805, I watched with elbows set and chin in hands, the goings on over there with interest and intrigue setting my mind to whirl. I wonder if they have a girl my age. I wonder if they have a dog. I wonder where they came from. I wonder what their names are.
Within the coming days, all my questions were answered and all of my wildest dreams came true. I came to find out that this was an extraordinary family, maybe even magical. Enter, the Whites. The White family’s children, I was elated to find out there were seven of them, were all within 1 or 2 years of my age! How could this be? How could I get so lucky? David and Linda White were one year older than I was, Richard White was my age, Sarah and Laurie were one year younger and Chris and Rachel weren’t much younger than they were! They even had two dogs, Tipsy and three-legged Sweeper! Wow, this was going to be great!!
It didn’t take long for the Whites to settle in and for the rest of the kids on Sharon Lane to get the news that our playmate number on the street had just doubled! The White’s front yard soon became the unrivaled field for big games of Maul Ball, Kickball and Greek Dodge. Heavy bike traffic up and down Sharon Lane became the norm and the White’s long driveway provided the roller skating rink for the neighborhood with Mrs. White’s big blue van and Mr. White’s little black VW bug the only obstacles. Not only were all their kids fun and game for anything but Mrs. White had a smile and hug ever available and Mr. White in his dashing, naval military uniform was open and welcoming as well. Summer evenings catching fireflies, praying mantises and playing hide and seek became regular and carefree events until the street lights went on or we heard the ringing of the White’s dinner bell signaling the day was done and it was time to head home. Running down to the creek at the bottom of the White’s hill to collect tadpoles, weeping willow tree whips and if lucky a tortoise, were a childhood rite. The boys’ hand built fort was off limits to us girls but we pretended not to care and that collecting honeysuckles, making dandelion chains and rolling down the big hill were our only interests there in the backyard. In the winter after a big snow, the White’s long, steep side hill was the only place to be and the Whites, bundled up and wearing hand knitted mittens, welcomed the sleds, saucers and toboggans showing up from around the neighborhood. The boys constructed ramps and jumps to make the already scary run even more exciting and the challenge and fear of sliding all the way to the end of the run to the wooden horse fence posed a solid threat of injury which added to the thrill.
Holidays were wonderful with the Whites in the neighborhood. Halloween brought out their annual apple bobbing for trick or treaters and Thanksgivings were shared with my family hosted by the Whites featuring pies, pies and more homemade pies. I remember Laurie and I, committed animal lovers, would steal lettuce leaves and other vegetables from the salad and make our way over to my house to feed my guinea pig Oscar, so he could enjoy a happy Thanksgiving as well. Christmases, the ever anticipated holiday brought out the red and green Felt Family decorations on the White’s front door, which was hardly ever used, as the side door lead straight into the bounteous White kitchen and heart of their home, but that is a whole new paragraph. After the glorious chaos of Christmas morning at my house, I would run over to see what Laurie got for Christmas and luxuriate in the magnified chaos of Christmas morning at the White’s. I think the coolest present I remember Laurie ever getting was this new thing called a calculator! Whoa, I was jealous.
The White’s kitchen caused much excitement one summer as they were having it renovated. New, blue cabinets went in and a long counter. It was fancy! Splendid food was created there and Mrs. White’s regular trips to the PX brought into their kitchen brand name cereals, snacks and beautiful fruit I was enamored by. I would be thrilled when Laurie invited me over for lunch and I could put in my order for Mrs. White’s tuna sub sandwich, one of my favorite sandwiches to this day. In the summer, Mr. White would generously make and offer cups of Orange Julius to any neighborhood kids hanging around outside.
The White’s house was my second home throughout my childhood. I was so excited when an addition was decided and I got to see and hear about the plans, watching them come to life. This also settled a childhood fear as I now felt certain the Whites would never move away from Sharon Lane. Linda was getting her own room, and Laurie and Sarah were able to choose the wall paint colors for their new room. This loving, fun, busy and open hearted, expanded house became the exciting venue for sleepovers with Laurie, Speed Racer, Brady Bunch and Partridge Family TV gatherings, board game afternoons, Barbie marathon sessions, gerbil tunnel building and even some Ouija Board experiences. Best of all, this home housed my best and dearest childhood friend as well as Laurie’s sisters, all good and kind playmates of mine and her brothers, on whom I had regular crushes. And it only got better as this beautiful family eventually expanded with the glorious familial additions of numbers 8 and 9. First cute, little Andrew and finally spunky, happy Julie, this grand family’s exclamation point!
Skimming just the top of my treasured childhood memories on Sharon Lane, I gratefully and graciously attribute the magnitude of my memories and their heartwarming and lifelong influence on my life, to the parents of this exceptional yours, mine and ours family, Mr. and Mrs. White. Thank you Parke and Karen for creating, building and working very hard to sustain, love and nurture each other as well as every one of your wonderful children and now your treasured grandchildren. Thank you as well for opening your home and hearts to your neighbors, including me. Your commitment and love for each other is to be regarded as extraordinary and stands as a powerful example and inspiration needed in our world today. I am grateful for you and for your influence throughout my life and wish you both, with a deep and joyous heart, a very happy and magical 50th year anniversary celebration.
Love to all, each and every one,
Janet Reiche Meyer
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