From my dad’s personal history:
“In the spring of 1955 we moved [from 707 Michigan Avenue] to 5606 Swan Creek Road, which was a few miles out in the country.  The rent was cheaper, and we thought we’d like to be out away from the city.”

It’s a small, white, cement block house sitting on a large lot.  Even today, 55 years after we lived there it is still “out in the country,” and it almost looks like time has stopped.   The surrounding trees that have grown and matured and the new[er] model car in the driveway are the only outward indications that many years have passed.  To the curious passerby, the house looks very much the same today as it did when we lived there when I was a year old.

Having been raised on a farm in North Ogden, Utah, I am quite certain that Dad loved living in the wide open space out of town.  But as I look at these pictures,  I wonder if Mom loved living out there, or if it was a huge inconvenience.  The surroundings were green and peaceful with no background noise from neighbors or traffic.  I could see plenty of room for rowdy preschoolers to run around.  And surely the pace of life was slower and more relaxed out there.  But my mom has always been a city girl, and maybe she missed the noise and activity of a downtown neighborhood. Maybe she worried about her three little children running out to the road.  Maybe she hated having to drive 5 or 6 miles to the grocery store.  Or maybe it was a toss up . . .

Those three little children on the front porch look perfectly happy with their country home.  (But why do I have on a snowsuit and my siblings are just in short sleeves?)  Because I have no memory of our time there, I can simply wonder and imagine about that year.  I picture it as cozy, comfortable, and a great place to chase after a young family.  And I hope my mom did too!