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Sweet Home, Garage
:: May 13, 05:48 AM

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My mom’s house underwent a major remodel in 2001. The house went from nondescript, suburban 70s to Elle Decor country chic. Gone were the scratches on the front door caused by our hyperactive dog Shiro. And gone were the stains in the carpet from my sister’s Cindy’s micro-ravioli mishap. A stranger would consider these flaws, but I deemed them as characteristics.

Although I miss these traits of history once in a while, I am super ecstatic for my mother who finally got to realize her dream home. Plus, the comforts of modern interior are easy to get used to as a visitor – granite countertops for easy clean-up, and large, deep sink basins with just the right amount of water pressure.

But one part of the house has remained the same: the garage. As I pulled into the garage yesterday, it looked just as though I remembered it as a 12-year old. Sure there have been cabinets installed and it looks tidier, but the overall “look” has remained the same.

I haven’t hung out in a garage since moving to Tokyo and pulling into my mom’s garage yesterday brought back a sense of warmth.

As a kid my garage memories include spinning the washer, only to realize I had forgotten to add detergent. I also remember having makeshift band practices much to the chagrin of my mom and our neighbors. My prized eraser collection was also stowed in there and I’d sneak into the garage in the middle of the night a few times a year just to make sure it was still there. The garage was dark and uninviting but there were reasons to go there. And finally, when I first went off to college, I vividly remember my best friends Maria and Matt standing, then running with hands waving, as I pulled out of the garage.

So this is me, giving props to our garage and all the garages across suburban America that keep it real, house our dreams (guitars, power tools, beer), histories (photos, old furniture) and serve as the starting point of “getting away from it all.”

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1. tears.

   — kayoko akabori    May 18, 11:14   

2. You missed one little detail – even the garage is different. We now have a smooth roll up door instead of the noisy, clunky lifting one. Progress – it leaves nothing unscathed.

   — lakshman    May 20, 04:57   

3. One other part of our house that has never been changed is our same old dimly-lit “attic.” It is forever cluttered with all the stuff we stored for the past 16 years. I don’t know how many times I bumped my head and cussed at the beams that run through the slanted ceiling.

   — mama    May 25, 02:52   

4. I thank you humbly for sharing your widsom JJWY

   — Anushi    Mar 26, 15:12   

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