Friday, January 2, 2015

Finale

The day the house came down was July 2nd, 2013, which would have been my Dad's 86th birthday. It started in the morning and by the time I had arrived back. It was reduced to this.




While this was going on we were all gathered celebrating my Uncle's birthday close by in Scarborough. It was an early party as his birthday is in August. I had promised myself not to go back but my morbid curiousity got the better of me. 

I climbed in and stood in the spot I had so many times before.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Demolition Imminent

Went by the house on Saturday on the way to the Glen Stewart ravine to walk the hound. As we turned the corner from Lee Ave. I saw a big flash of yellow and realized it had finally begun.


Immediately my rational side took over, saying it was inevitable and feeling slightly happy that we could all put it behind us.

Slowly though, as I got out of the car to take this picture, the emotional side crept in and I began to realize what this actually meant. The home where we had all grown up was soon to be no more. No more like it had never existed. The safe place you could always go back to, to make that important connection to the past. The place that was a living museum of our lives. The backdrop of so many family photos, scooped into a dumpster and carted off. 

I went back the next day and have the unfortunate opportunity to meet the purchaser. He was a fast talking little fellow who drove a fancy sportscar. He spent the better part of an hour telling a couple of long time neighbours and myself how great he is and how the new monster home he'll be building on the lot would be so much easier if there hadn't been a house there in the first place. As it if was merely a nuisance. 

Not a particularly sensitive fellow as he knew it had been my family home. He didn't do much to change my already negative view of RE agents and their ilk. At least he let me in for one more walk through of the backyard. After what I was greeted by, I should have left well enough alone.

Before this, allow me to show you how lovely the backyard was. My Dad (and Mom) put a lot of effort into creating and maintaining this little oasis.

August 2011 with Jed.

June 30th 2013. 

This was a photo my Mom took in 2006.

June 30, 2013

Barring a typhoon, demolition is et to begin tomorrow, July 2nd. My Dad's birthday. Not the greatest gift Dad.

I may go down to witness the carnage. I think it would be cathartic. It will probably just be sad.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas Visit

Went by Glen Ames yesterday (Christmas Day). A day I have spent there for most of the last 43 years.

Junk was piled in the driveway from the neighbour's renovation. Garbage was strewn about and overflowing mail addressed to 'Occupant' spilled out onto the porch below. The neglect was disheartening.

A large clinical sign, hastily taped to the front door reads "Demolition Permit', yet the house still stands over 6 months later.

I stood in the backyard for a few moments. It looks no different than it would have last year at this time. The plants we removed are unnoticeable within the frost stung garden. The patio furniture gone, as it would be. The barrels sagging a little deeper, cautioning of their future demise.

Peered in through the back window and it is how we left it.

Strange, the coexisting feeling of familiarity and disconnectness.

The backyard as I left it on May 10, 2012. The night before it was sold.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Ending

I will begin this at the ending.

Today Sue, Janet, Roger, Jed, MacDuff and I popped the last cork at the family home on Glen Ames. The house, which was supposed to close on the 30th, will be closing sometime this week. The process which brought us here has been a bit of a hell ride.

Between weaselly real estate agents, even more weaselly lawyers, a Mother determined to sell to the first low-baller and a lifetime worth of memories to pack up and in most cases throw out, a really difficult process has become at times almost unbearable. This is the story of 9 Glen Ames.



Taken on May 6th, 2012. Last day at the house.