Kelly Maida--Home Is Where The Heart Is

My grandparents lived in 1000 Islands. They originally had a home in Frankfort, New York but they starting spending so much time in fishers landing that they eventually bought a trailer and not to long after they bought a house down the road. The best times of my life was visiting them. Every summer I would stay with them. They lived in Fishers landing near a restaurant called Foxys. They gave me routine and structure. They were the only healthy people in my family. The best role models of my life. We had routines and certain places that we went . They gave me stability and structure. I used to love going to rondettes for lunch in Clayton with them. My grandparents went there so much they knew them by name And we would also go fishing sometimes across the street from my grandparents house, or on the boat or dock, we would also go to favorite spots of my nonnies down the street. Bullheads were my favorite fish to catch.

My favorite memories were going with my grandma to work, I would help her. They worked for Clover Boldt Baird. the granddaughter of George Boldt. He owned Boldt Castle. Clovers house was close to Boldt Castle. It is called Hopewell Hall. It is located on millionaires road on Wellesley Island. My grandfather would drive her to Florida and my grandmother would clean her home. It was a mansion and I still remember every room in the house just like it was yesterday. When you first walk in there was a kitchen and we would clean the silverware. And then there was a hallway to a beautiful Florida room that was all glass and plants with some chairs and a couch. And then walking up the stairs there was a pink room that was Clovers mother’s room I believe. My favorite room was the gold room. Everything in that room was gold. Next to that was a green room that I believe was her accounts room. The house even had an indoor pool! It had such good vibes there and it was right on the water!

Boldt Castle was nearby and we would also go there also. I loved taking tours there it is on heart island. The gardens have heart shapes. It has a very romantic story. George buildt Boldt Castle for his wife. He put in 365 windows so his wife could have a different view every day. No wonder so many weddings are held there. When they passed away it was sold to Thousand Island Bridge authorities and they let visitors come to tour it. They also restored it and it looks so beautiful. I used to love going there by boat it’s such a beautiful ride.

Back at my grandparents house they built an addition to their house it was a big kitchen where we would sit down and have meals. My Nonnie was such an amazing cook. I loved her pasta and French onion soup. She has a sweet tooth that i inherited. She liked mint and mint ice cream and so do I. We would sit out in this kitchen - she would call it a porch and it had a tv out there we would watch a few soap operas, sometimes we would play cards and we watched old movies like Abbott and Costello. When I was little I would go out in the front yard and pretend I was making potions would sticks and mud. As I got older we would sun bathe out front it had such a beautiful spot to sit in. My cousins and I would go up there together as well we would play in the yard, kick ball or t ball. We would also take walks around fishers landing and play tennis. As I got older my grandma got a golf cart and she would let me drive it. That was so much fun or there was times she would drive it and she would take me around fishers landing and to the post office. We would also go visit her friend Phyllis that lived near by and Bruce and Marilyn. There was also a cute stone cottage nearby that my great grandpa would stay in sometimes when he would visit.

I treasure my travel memories so much. They shaped me so much and my heart aches as I write this because my grand parents are deceased. I loved them so much that I struggled when they died I didn’t want to admit they were gone when they died. For years I would dream of my grandfather after he passed away and he would go in my dreams and say don’t cry I’m still here with you. And when I gave birth to my daughter Kaleigh I swear I felt him near me that day. I still have dreams of my grandparents to this day. I had the best memories with them. They were the best people that I’ve ever met in my whole life. I truly adored them. They were the only true peace that I had in my life. And my memories with them were the best times of my life.

My grandpa I called him Poppy. And he always told me not to say goodbye to him but to say Arrivederci it means I will see you soon!

I am grateful for the memories that I have from my grandparents! Home is not a destination, it’s a safe feeling inside of you! And you can carry that anywhere! Home is your heart and your heart can be a portal to other worlds! Your heart is where your beautiful memories are tucked away! One last memory I have is seeing the bridge in 10000 Islands! I remember when traveling to my grandparents house they would always say let’s see who notices the bridge first! It brings tears to my eyes! Seeing the bridge was always so much fun! It was our sign that we finally made it to our destination! Not to mention it was truly beautiful! 1000 Islands truly is a treasure! I now know why my grand parents moved there!

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