My grandparents' front porch. Its appearance has changed some since I was a kid, but the good memories remain constant. |
With so many good memories, is it
any wonder I’ve always longed to own a big front porch? And yet I never have. I
grew up in the fifties and sixties in one of those midcentury houses with a
front porch the size of a postage stamp. The houses my husband Bill and I have
owned all had porches the size of the envelope—a little larger but still not
big enough to serve any useful purpose. It seems that until recently front
porches all but disappeared. In the suburban sprawl of the fifties, folks
retreated behind the walls of their houses to seek privacy and to watch TV. In
the sixties and seventies, they ventured back outside, but instead of lounging
on the porch to sip iced tea or lemonade, they retreated to backyard patios to
barbecue. In the eighties, those patios became decks—often with the added
luxury of a hot tub and/or a pool—and that trend held steady through the
nineties and into the new millennium. These days, outdoor kitchens ensure that
most of our socializing remains in the back yard.
Lately, though, I’ve noticed a
revival of the front porch. With the resurrection of the Craftsman and bungalow
styles, lovely porches are once again gracing the fronts of new houses: porches
large enough to provide shade and comfortable seating for several people; porches
where folks can sit outside and greet—or meet—their
neighbors.
I don’t think my dream of owning a
big front porch will ever become a reality. Bill and I have lived in several
different houses throughout our married life but have been in our current one
for twenty-five years. We’re so settled in, it would take an act of God to
remove us (maybe not such a remote possibility with Oklahoma tornadoes and earthquakes). But Bill
insists his next address will be the ground. I’m thinking more along the lines
of “the home.”
...my porch "wannabe" (But, hey, it works.) |
My dream porch... |
In regard to that aforementioned
“home,” when the time comes and if I have anything to say about the matter, it
will have a big front porch. I think that will make a nice transition into my
final and eternal abode—which, of course, will have a HUGE one.
Have any front-porch thoughts or memories
you’d like to share?
Lovely post. My grandparents had a large front porch. Like you said, while the adults talked the kids played. I had a magnificent horse fashioned from a propane tank. Most family photos from that time were taken on that porch. The home place is now falling into ruin. The roof of the porch is sagging dangerously and the flooring is unstable. I often want to go back in time to those simpler days.
ReplyDeleteWe have a front porch which is lovely from the road but it isn't deep enough for furniture. If we ever move a large front porch will be essential. And, a back deck with a screened in porch.
By the way, I want homemade ice cream and I want to lick the dasher! Thank you for this remarkable post that conjures only happy memories.
Thank you, Winona. I was hoping this post would conjure good memories for a lot of people. I love it that you had a "propane tank" horse! I see from your pic you've moved on to real ones. :-)
DeleteLovely post, DeeDee. Took me back!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra. I suspected a lot of people would have similar memories associated with front porches.
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