Andy West Realtor

07/22/2026

...and you stay that way for the rest of your life

07/22/2026

06/20/2026

I remember one Thursday night in 1984 so vividly: I was sprawled on the carpet, close enough to the TV to "ruin my eyes," as Dad often said. "Family Ties" was on, just before Michael J. Fox became a household name.

The lamp beside my dad's recliner cast a warm yellow glow across the room, and my mom was folding laundry while pretending not to watch. My sister was stretched out on the floor with a bowl of popcorn that she didn't want to share.

In hindsight, the TV wasn't the center of the room, even though it felt like it at the time.

The people were. The sound of ice clinking in a glass, the rustle of newspaper pages, the familiar voices filling every corner of the house.

At the time, it felt ordinary. Just another night. And I guess it was.

We spend years thinking we miss old television shows, our family furniture, the record players, or the way the house looked back then.

But when we're honest with ourselves, that's not what we're longing for.

We miss Dad laughing from his favorite chair.

We miss Mom calling everyone into dinner.

We miss our grandparents, and our brothers and sisters, before life scattered us in all directions. Or aunts, uncles, cousins, or even neighbors who would walk through the front door without knocking.

"Things" were never the magic.

The magic was that the room was full of loved ones.

At the time, nobody realized those ordinary nights were becoming memories. We thought there would always be another holiday gathering. Another Sunday night. Another chance to squeeze everyone onto that velour couch at the same time.

Who wouldn't trade some modern conveniences for just one more evening in that living room?

For one more laugh.

One more story.

One more ordinary night with the people who made life extraordinary.

02/26/2026

Outside was the main attraction.

12/31/2025

Phone calls required planning and patience.