Can you go home again?

 People say you can't go home again... But I went back to Meppershall, England.

It'd been forty-four years and thanks to Facebook I reconnected with my childhood friend Sheree. It gave me the courage to go back.

This was the last house I truly remember living in. It was a two up two down house with no inside toilet or bath. We did have water in the kitchen. It had seriously steep stairs to the upstairs. My brilliant 97 year old grandad knocked on the door and asked if I could come in. He explained I lived there about 44 years ago. The gracious young man let me go up to my old bedroom. My heart was full of joy! My shelves in the wall were still there. The room and the view matched my memories (other than people having put up fences in the garden).

My heart was full rather than pained when I saw the shed attached to the side of the house that we had an outside portable toilet in that we could use at night. During the day we used a privy at the end of the garden. I survived my childhood and some uncomfortable situations and now have some good stories to tell.

This was in front of the house. There is a small stream in the overgrowth. Sheree and I used to play there. My grandad and the knowledge of having a visit with my friend allowed me to find joy in the memories.

When I went to school we went on an exciting field trip to a bakery and we each were able to make a loaf of braided bread. I wasn't sure if this was a real memory or an invented one. Turns out if was true and the school still goes to the bakery every Harvest Season and the kids still get to make a loaf of bread.

It was lovely to find this was a real memory.

Sheree and Grandad gave me a bigger gift than they will ever know...

The school secretary gave us a tour of the school. It felt very much the same.

I shared my gymnasium trauma with the secretary. And she healed me... When you forgot your gym kit you had to do PE in your britches and undershirt. It had always hurt me that I had been given such an awful punishment. The secretary said the same thing happened to her when she was in school. So, I wasn't the only one this happened to. It took a great weight off my shoulders.

The ride was long, but the benefits it gave to me were huge... I found peace.

We came home with a giant loaf of bread from the bakery and we had enough to share with Stanley. Grandad's adopted pet.

I dealt with some ghost from the past and overcame them. I am at peace.

I wish you peace, too.

Have a wonderful summer!

This is Stanley the Sea Gull.  He lives on the southern coast of England.  He's a happy bird.  Grandad feeds him damp bread at the end of each week.  He likes his bread wet, not dry.

I found an awesome rock on the beach that made me think of a seagull...named Stanley.  I hope you enjoy my WIP: STANLEY MAKES A FRIEND.

This a picture book I am working on.  :)  I would love to hear your input.  Positive or negative....it will help me write the best story possible.

Here are my first  few words...

Stanley perched proudly on the edge of his nest, high in the white cliffs of Dover.

All the other sea gulls looked at Stanley's nest.

"How can you live this way?" Asked Sandy.

Stanley smiled. "Don't be sad. I can teach you how to decorate your nest."

Sandy fanned out her feathers. "You silly goose! I don't want to be like you."

Stanley scratched his head.

Sandy flew back to her very tidy nest.

Something shinny sparkled in the sun. Stanley dove down to the beach.

This would be a fine addition to his nest. Stanley slipped his beak through the loop and flew home.

"I will hang this near the front of my home. It will sparkle in the sun."

Steve glided into Stanley's nest.

"Ouch! What is that?" Steve rubbed his head.

"It's my new shiney thing." Stanley grinned.

"Well, it's rather dangerous," Steve snapped.

" I could help you find one for your nest." Stanley stood tall. He knew he could find almost anything.

"NO WAY! Sea gulls are not collectors."

Stanley's head hung with shame. Not one of his friends shared his love for treasure hunting.

Stanley slipped the sparkly round thing on his beak and flew away.

"I'm going to find a new home where a saving sea gull is appreciated."

"Whoops!"

Stanley swooped down trying to catch his shiny thing.

It landed in a beautiful green garden, right beside an old human sleeping in the sun.

Swoosh...

Stanley landed behind a tree.

Swish...

A small bird with a yellow beak landed right next to Stanley's shiny thing.

Clink, clink, clink. The small bird slipped Stanley's shiny thing on his beak and flew away.

Stanley followed him.

"Hey, you took my shiny thing." Stanley stood on the edge of a very well decorated nest.

"I found it near my bath."

"I dropped it as I was looking for a new home. It was the only thing I took with me."  Stanley frowned.

"Why are you looking for a new home?"

"All the other sea gulls make-fun of me, for collecting things."

I am so bad about following blog hop rules...

I'm looking forward to reading your posts.

Hugs, Sharon


What are you working on???