A family puts down roots in Disston Heights, and makes their house a haven where friends feel comfortably at home.
By LISA AND TEX SMITH
Published December 18, 2005
A traveler by heart and explorer by nature, my nomadic path revels in its return to St. Petersburg.
Every morning I jump, maybe creak would be better, out of bed and open the blinds to be greeted by my warm friend, El Sol. Yes, it gets furiously hot in the summer, but I simply turn my AC down and pretend this is our "blizzard," minus the ice that could slide my car into a ravine.
My husband and I married in 1973 and bought our current home in '77. It was just a house then, but now, a home, filled with beautiful memories. I can still see my daughter Stacey, at age 2, rounding the hallway corner, dragging Theodore Edward Bear with her.
Our community, known as Disston Heights, is 46 feet above sea level. We may blow away in hurricane winds, but we won't be swimming. We are centrally locatedand can be at the beach, in Tampa, or at Ruth Eckerd Hall in less than 30 minutes. This is a great location for us.
Now, let me tell you why we love our home. Our front yard is host to four majestic oaks that we planted. The largest was a gift from my grandmother, purchased when it was still the size of a broom. Stacey, now a grown woman, climbed it as a child, swinging from branch to branch like a little monkey. I never worried, knowing my grandmother's "arms" would cradle her safely.
My home is my heart. The people I love are here. It's not just cement, but a living thing, alive with fun and laughter. After 28 years of shaping and molding, it has become a safe haven, wrapping itself around me. When friends come over, they say, "I love coming here. I always feel so comfortable and at home."
I simply smile.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
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