Post #7 - Mama's New Westminster House

So I was going to write about the funeral today, but I couldn't bring myself to it. Instead I'm going to write about Mama's old house in New Wesminster.

Today the boys were all over for the afternoon/evening and while we were talking, Harinder told them that I liked our New Westminster house more than I liked the house we were currently living in. Arjan asked me why, pointing out the fact that our old house was so much smaller. Basically all I can say is that I'm finally getting adjusted to living out here, but I really miss all the memories of growing up in New Westminster...

And that got me thinking about not only my old house in New Westminster, but also Mama's. It was definately like a second home. I remember going there in the summers when everyone would be at the farm (that I wish we still owned!). I have so many memories there. Even as a kid, I remember how much I used to love spinning in Mama's black leather chairs in the family room. It seems funny now, but back then I used to do it as if it were a game. I also remember that huge picture Mama had framed above the leather couches. I was just looking at it the other day at the Surrey house...

And don't even get me started on the rec room! I loved that room just because of its layout. It was so warm and inviting! I remember all the little details about it too. It was basically an extension of Mama's bachelor pad - well until he got married. Then it was his place to kick back and relax. He had the bar in it with that cool mirror all along the back wall. There were all the glasses displayed on the glass shelves, but come to think of it, I don't think I ever saw any liquor bottles!

Then there was his exercise equipment. I used to love that bike. Do you guys remember it? I could never peddle fast enough to actually start it up, but I think I just liked sitting on it just to feel a bit taller! There was the fridge that Mami-Ji usually had popsicles in (always something I checked for when I came over). And there was the window that Harinder climbed through one day when no one was home and he walked over from school. I remember Mama's CD system too. He was probably one of the first people to have one because c'mon - back in the day everyone listened to cassette players and tapes! I remember how he had a small stack of CDs and I always used to go through them even though they never changed. The only one I can remember is "Butterfly" by Mariah Carey and Harinder told me a few days ago that it was the CD we got Mami-Ji one Christmas. And let's not forget Arjan's Siamese fighting fish that was in the Mickey Mouse fishbowl!

That room was the best place to sit in and just chill. I remember it was my hangout back in grade 1 when I was off school for one week with the chicken pox! I just lounged on the couch watching cartoons all morning with calamine lotion all over my face. Another time Roger, Jason, and I slept over. While Mama, Mami-Ji guys were all asleep, we watched Jason's favourite movie: Heavy Weights. I can't believe you don't remember that, Jason! And then one time I spent a whole week over at the house. It was back in high school. I remember I used to hang out with everyone after school and then at nighttime I'd do my homework in the rec room while I watched primetime TV shows like ER. I loved how Mami-Ji guys were always so cool about me staying up until whatever hour! I have a memory with Mama from that week too, but I'll share that another time...

It's weird because I get really choked up when I realize I used to go over to that house more than Mama's house in Surrey. Or at least it seems that way. I guess when you're a kid, you have a lot of time and then when you grow up, you don't realize that you should MAKE more time...

I'm still beating myself up inside about not going over to Mama's house the day before everything happened. It just upsets me. And I just remembered that another reason I chose to take a nap instead was because I thought I'd see Mama and Masi guys the next day. Mom had told me that we would all be meeting up at BK for the grand opening. I remember her asking me what we should take to give the Mission families. She was asking me if flowers were appropriate and I had no clue, but it seemed like a good idea. And then the next day everything happened and obviously no one went...

There's so many thoughts going through my head right now, but I guess I'll end by sharing one last thing I remember about Mama's rec room. Do you guys remember his statue of that black panther? It's on the fireplace of the Surrey house now, but back then it used to never move from the centre of the table in the rec room. I love that thing and I remember looking at it a few times over the past month. Because of it, I got an idea, but I'll share it with you tomorrow. Until then, take care...

PS: Great to see that you joined too, Jason. And Arjan, it's awesome that you like reading the page! I'll show you how you can make posts when I come over, ok?

Love Karen