by Owen Wiese
The first house was very old. Lois and I had lived in it for about sixty years. It was a comfortable house. During those sixty years we had become very used to the old house. As we got older, it did not fit our needs because of all the stairways. Stairways to enter the house, stairways to go to the basement or to the bedrooms.
We sold the old house about three years ago to Rollie and Joyce Peschon. They planned to either move the house or have the house demolished, and build a new one. The decision was made to have the house demolished and to build a new house in its place.
The decision to have the house demolished was one that gave us many thoughts although we had not been living in it for three years. It was now Rollie and Joyce’s house and theirs to do as they wished. They have been very thorough in their planning while keeping us informed of their decisions. They allowed several people to salvage parts from the house for use elsewhere.
When the big excavator pulled into the yard, we knew the plans were underway. It took the excavator about two hours to take the house apart, while the clean-up was many more hours.
They didn’t take everything though. We were left with the memories of sixty years. Good memories, some not so good. Memories of children growing up, memories of friends, many, many memories. The memories will be with Lois and I forever.
After the clean-up was completed, he ground was smoothed off and prepared for the second house, the new one. Rollie and Joyce are making plans for a house that will satisfy their needs, with future plans for extensive landscaping and prairie gardens.
They will be able to build their remembrances. As the years go by the memories will accumulate and they will have many kinds just as Lois and I have. I sincerely hope that the memories bring great happiness to them.
