A Little House by the Sea, for You and Me - Carmel Doll Shop

More documents

Recommendations

Info

This charming walnut dresser stands less than four feet tall. Baron de la Bear relaxes with a favorite book. 6 Florida or upstate New York, or wherever it was the person claimed to have played in me during their childhood years. The wild claims seemed to convince an exasperated Michael and David, that all playhouses must look alike to small children! Other visitors expressed outrage that I had been sold without their knowledge, including a gentleman visiting from the East, who one day roared up to the front of the shop in a fancy sports car. It was right after my arrival on the lawn, David was sitting behind the desk inside the shop, with a freshly read copy of The Maine Antiques Digest on the seat next to him when the man burst in and demanded to know somewhat testily, “How is it that you have that playhouse?” David replied, “It was for sale and we bought it.” Not able to help himself he added, “We just asked nicely by the way, that was all it took.” The man countered, “I would like to buy it, I’ve been after it for years.” David replied, “It isn’t for sale.” The tight-faced man replied with a cash offer and tossed his business card on the desk. David picked up the card and instantly recognized the name on the card only because he had read it just minutes earlier within the pages of the Maine Antiques Digest. The sensational story in the trade paper reported that a piece of American folk art had recently sold at auction for over three quarters of a million dollars. The name of the dealer that purchased the folk art was the very name on the business card, which David was holding in his hand – an unbelievable coincidence. David said, in an incredulous tone, “You bought the folk art?!” and picked up the paper lying next to him, “But, our play house isn’t for sale”. The gentleman, stunned, headed for the door, uttering his final words, “Hang onto my card”. But there, the “negotiations” had ended. For years I continued to delight visitors from my sunny spot in the garden and they still wandered into the shop, claiming me as their own – including a little old lady that one day emphatically stated, “You have my playhouse out front” as she peered into the shop, squinting over the open Dutch door. Having long grown tired of the playhouse game, David didn’t even bother to look up from the table he was busily waxing, when he robotically replied “Mm-hmh.” But, it was the next sentence the lady uttered which had David heading for the door and reaching for the doorknob to let the old dear in.
Me with a friend upon my porch…happy memories from 1927. “I have a picture of myself with that house that was taken in 1927.” “Please, have a seat, sweetheart.” was David’s reply. “That, I would like to see.” The lady went on to relate to David that she had played in me from the time she was four years old, as she and her parents regularly vacationed in Pacific Grove, from their home in San Francisco. Good to her promise, a few days later the little old lady returned to the shop with a copy of a black and white photo, clearly showing herself at age four sitting in a child-sized chair, happily rocking upon my front porch. She made the photo a gift to Michael and David – a touching act, but I was all the more touched that she had recognized me after all of that time had passed, since the day, as a smiling little girl, she sat upon my tiny porch. It seems the little lady really knew what I had known all along, but of course, could not share. I was built for the enjoyment of the children that visited the Forest Hill Hotel, located in Pacific Grove, an adjacent town. I would endure one more move when Michael and David relocated their antiques business to San Francisco, closing the door on the Monterey shop they had operated for just over ten years. A phone call was placed to the towing company that had moved me years previous and to the pleasant surprise of all of us, a smiling Jamie responded to the call. After all, he had experience in house moving! Once more I was lifted from the ground, destination – the garden of Michael and David’s newly purchased house. It has been ten years now since that last move and I have seen a lot of changes in those years. My life is a bit quieter these days without the attention of the clamoring public…though, no less lovely. Surrounded by graceful pepper trees whose profuse pink peppercorns softly rake against my roof, a pink climbing rose provides fragrant enjoyment in the springtime months. A nearby bubbling fountain and the buzz of bees tending the roses and lavender provide a gentle lullaby and many evenings I am lulled to sleep by the distant, yet familiar bellowing of the foghorn located in my old hometown of Pacific Grove. Some summer Saturdays, I find myself straining to hear the cheers of children playing baseball at a park a few blocks away. But, these days, rather than visits from children, I am more likely to be explored by a resident Bulldog puppy, a new addition to the family who wanders in from time to time when my door is left open. Inside, I lovingly embrace a collection of old, child-sized furniture, books, photos and toys, all haunted by the sweet spirits of the children they once belonged to. One special photo is the one of the four year old girl sitting in the little rocker upon my front porch, the child who grew up to finally share our story…hard to believe that she actually knew me when I was young. All of that time…the pine trees in the old photo are small and appear newly planted, while today they tower at least four stories. All of that time…I provided infinite joy to small children, dogs, cats and big children, alike. All of that time…I longed…to share my true story and I waited…to finally…come home. 7 My first home — the Forest Hill Hotel in Pacific Grove, California.
Page 1 and 2: A Little House by the Sea, for You
Page 3 and 4: that Michael and David never wrote
Page 5: Michael, David and Jamie stood on t

A Little House by the Sea, for You and Me - Carmel Doll Shop

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?