... to this intersection.
This was the last place we lived in Burbank before moving to Santa Clarita. And here's the house at 2108 Lamer St.
As soon as I came around the corner, the first thing I saw was the eucalyptus tree in the front. I couldn't believe it was still there! I remember patting the trunk before climbing into the station wagon as we pulled out of the driveway for the last time. I was 7 years old. I always remembered the smell of the leaves and picking up the gum nuts. Only now the trunk was so much thicker and it was obvious that it had been trimmed down at the top. There was another tree closer to the front door that I remember climbing in and thinking I was sooooo high. In reality I was level with the roof but for a little girl, it felt like the top of the Empire Sate Building.
I drove down the street to our duplex. I saw what I immediately recalled as it. Mom thought it was further down but Toni made a comment about where she thought it was and I think I was right. It was strange how the minute I saw it I thought, "that's it". Memories of playing there were strong. I'll make another trip with Mom (and Toni? Gordon? Bueller?) and get more pictures. Oh, and I also drove past McCambridge Park, home of many Cubscout, Girl Scout and Camp Fire Girl outings. Couldn't take a picture while I was driving however ;0(
Behind the white marquee is the kindergarten playground. April and I both remember this fondly. We had a metal jungle gym then (oh, and we also walked to school in the snow).
As soon as I saw the drive below I recalled that this was the drive on the side of the school that Gordon (then known as Keith or Keithy) rode his bike down and took it in the neck, as in a chain strung across the drive wasn't seen and he took it on. Chain 1, Keith 0.
Strange how memories can stay so strong yet dormant but with a smell, a sense, a vision suddenly unleashing them. Like scattered black and whites, I come back here from time to time 
11 comments:
Hey Syd,
Thanks for the memories. We will have to go together sometime, maybe this summer and take mom and anyone else who can go. the old house is actually looking petty good and so is the school.
The duplex address is 2124 N Lamer. Don't know why I can remember that and I can't remember what I had for breakfast.
Do you remember the Varvel's? Ricky Varvel? The kid I had so many fights with? He moved onto the house years after we left.
I was thinking of the chain incident before you got to it. That chain changed my voice in a way puberty never could have. Now my voice can never be disguised. People recognize it years later even if they don't recognize my face.
Another thing. It really aggravates me how we waste tax money on schools today. George Washington was built in the 30's, in the middle of a depression when the city was small and poor, yet it has a full-blown auditorium with fold-down cushioned seats. At least they used to be. Newhall elementary was built in the late 30's or early 40's and had the same. Hart was built in the 40's and had one too, with music practice rooms and drama dressing rooms. And Newhall was still a 1 horse/Ag town!! Now with all our tax dollars all we get is modular rooms added on to featureless schools. :0(
Thanks Syd, I'll go down there with you some day.
Wait for me! Wait for me! Oh it all looks so beautiful! Do you think whoever lives in the house would let us in???? At least walk around the back! We're not scary looking are we? (oh wait - I take that back:)
There are very sweet, tender feelings for that neighborhood. Thaks sis.
You were alive when Kennedy was shot? Wasn't that forever ago? :) I shelter here somedays.
Do you think there are still headless doll residue hanging in the tree. Could we still sale tickets?
Only if there is ketchup on them.
Fantastic post. I did the same thing with Anita in Moorpark 5 years ago and had so many memories come back to me that I had completely forgotten. I almost crashed the bike I was riding from laughing so hard when I had a flash back of 3 of my friends and I riding one over sized beach-cruiser down the road as fast as we could. We did this often. One on the handle bars, one on the frame, one on the seat and one making pegs out of the wheel nuts on the back tire holding on to the driver. Ha, I can't believe we never crashed.
There's a quinea pig graveyard behind the garage!
BTW - the 'burying the dog alive' stories is in an older blog posting titled "I'm Sorry Stevie Schmidt, Wherever you are!"
Ah, the guinea pig graveyard. My kitten and a few hamsters and goldfish are back there too I'm sure.
That will be an interesting archeologist dig someday.
There are probably a thousand plastic toy soldiers buried on the side yard too. Remember how we used to make cities and battlefields in the dirt, then blow them up with rocks, and when we could get them, firecrackers?
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