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

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.
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My first home — the Forest Hill Hotel in Pacific Grove, California.