I was shopping with my mom in an antique mall one time and we passed a basket of old black and white family portraits with a sign that read “Instant Relatives $2 each!” We cracked up! I like old things. Old pictures and photos, old furniture, old books and old buildings all tell stories, but many times we don’t know those stories behind the items. How wonderful it is to have items passed down from generations to generations and to know the meanings and stories behind them. I have furniture, jewelry, books and photos from my grandparents. Fortunately, I knew them all and sat and listened to their stories about these things and many other experiences they had during their lives. Times seemed so much simpler back then. I am sure they weren’t simpler in their eyes - just different.
As a child I was fascinated by old houses and barns that sat in the middle of fields. As we would drive past them, often my mind would create the families that lived in these old worn houses. I would give the families names, pets and jobs and I could envision what they wore. All my families that I made up had moms and dads and they ate around the dinner table each night. The kids in my pretend families all had chores and homework and I never remember thinking about them having time in front of a television or computer or looking at their phones. These kids rode horses and flew kites and played in creeks. I have no idea where I got all this from, maybe Little House on the Prairie, however, what I do know was that everyone was happy in my made up families!
Recently, I was shown a picture of a beautiful big ole barn! It was a family barn on land that had been passed down for generations. All I could think of was what was the history here? Who lived here? If the walls of the barn could talk, what would they say? What was the story I would make up? Who did it belong to? Was it an ordinary hard working family with animals and fields of hay surrounding it? Or was there more of a suspenseful story that happened there? A kidnapping? A murder? Was it the location of an unsolved mystery?
I really wanted to know more of the history of the barn, so I asked my friend about it. She said her dad would tell stories about it being used as a regular barn for hay and horses and such, but that he would also speak about memories when they cleaned it up and use it for family reunions, events and dances! How fun! A big ole barn dance! There was no murder! The only suspense was maybe a boy asking a girl to dance! These were wonderful times!
Our world has gotten so busy and complicated. People have forgotten to look for the simple things! Instead of speeding by, slow down today and look at the abandoned house or building near you. If you aren't getting out, look up images of old barns and buildings on your computer. Take the time to dream up the story that goes with the house or building. Ask everyone in your family or group of friends to do the same. Your story could become the next Hallmark movie or next big mystery! Share your stories! Even better, go to the lonely house or building and share them there! Take a day to slow down, be creative and just imagine.