yellow houses and apricot jelly

Welcome to Sunday Favorite's Hosted by Chari at Happy To Design. Thank You Chari for a fun opportunity to bring up a post from the past. As I was looking over some of my own, I ran across this sweet memory of mine. I hope that you too will enjoy the simplicity of an elderly man's kindness, as I once did.

(First posted on May 5, 2009)

After the death of my mom, my dad remarried. Our next step was moving the two of us north, to be with our new family, on the west side of Petaluma.

The safe environment of this quaint town afforded me a great deal of free roam. It was not uncommon to ride my bike for blocks, nor was it out of the ordinary for most children to walk to and from school. I am grateful for the many freedoms I had as a child.

What adventures I'd have missed with out them.

Down the street from our home lived a man fondly known as "The Candy Man." He was a gray haired man who most days could be found tinkering in his garage. He lived alone in his small yellow house. I don't recall ever hearing him mention a wife or children. What I do however remember ... was his kindness.

I needed to pass his house on my walk to and from school everyday. On my way home I would drop by, knock on his door, to which he greeted me with a piece of candy.

On a few occasions in the summer I was invited into his little kitchen where he would make a peanut butter and apricot jelly sandwich for me. As I sat at the small table, across from him, eating my sandwich, we would chat. Considering I was around 5 years old, I don't remember the content of our conversations. Perhaps we spoke of school, the weather, my new family. I don't suppose it is all that important now. It was the impression that he left with me.

And to this day I have a fond place in my heart for small yellow houses with white trim, small sunny kitchens, and apricot jelly.