The great lyricist and novelist, Paulo Coelho, once said that when we least expect it, life gives us a challenge to test our willingness to change. He also said that a week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny. Coelho’s words certainly proved true for Don and me!
Just 14 months ago, we were living in the Foxcroft home we’d built in 1977. It was a home we’d remodeled over and over while we’d raised our three children, celebrated their marriages, and welcomed five of our six grandchildren into the world. Naturally, we loved the place.
And then one day, out of the blue, a young couple contacted us and asked if there was a chance we might be willing to sell the house. Like many other long-time empty nesters with a home now much too large for our needs, we’d thought about downsizing, but had made no plans to actually do it.
We talked about it and decided to invite the young couple over to tour the house, never dreaming that they’d immediately fall in love with it and make an offer. But that’s precisely what happened. Knowing that it would never again be that easy to sell the house, we accepted the offer. Within a week of the couple’s initial phone call, our home of 36 years was sold!
I think Don and I both secretly worried about what would come next. But after careful consideration, we settled on the Heights area because we wanted to live in a neighborhood with everything from young families with small children to retirees or soon-to-be retirees like us, and where there are small homes next to large homes and everything in between.
Next was the task of either finding a lot on which to build or buying an existing house. It didn’t take us long to decide that we should build so that we could have the smaller, but “lives big” house we wanted.
Within four weeks we had purchased a building lot, finished our plans and hired a builder, Richard Cone, an old high school and college classmate.
During the next 10 months, we stored most of our furniture and lived in a two-bedroom apartment. The apartment turned out to be a good move because, after being cramped in such a small space for months, our new and much smaller home seemed much larger than it is. We love it. It has an open living area with great traffic flow that gives it an “uncrowded feel” when large groups are visiting.
Judy and Don’s Heights Top 10
1. The huge, beautiful trees (many of them ancient), well-kept lawns and large variety of architecture.
2. Our friendly, interesting neighbors.
3. Well-lighted streets, both level and with hills that are great for walking, whether a slower pace or vigorous walk is needed.
4. St. John’s Seminary (2500 N. Tyler St.). Beautiful and historic, this is a wonderful place for my grandchildren to ride their bikes when they are visiting.
5. Excellent public elementary schools, like Jefferson and Forest Park, we felt would be a plus if we were to sell our new home.
6. Having the University of Arkansas System headquarters as a neighbor.
7. The quick drive to our church, Pulaski Heights United Methodist (4823 Woodlawn Drive), and the easy drive to downtown, midtown and west Little Rock.
8. The close proximity to great restaurants, from Chinese and Mexican to fine dining — Cheers, U.S. Pizza, Fantastic China and Terry’s, just to mention a few. Since I’m involved in food preparation all day at Catering To You, I thoroughly enjoy “other people’s” cooking that’s so close to home.
9. The convenience of living so near one of the best children’s shops in town, The Toggery (11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 405), where I purchased my childrens’ clothes and now clothing for my six grandchildren.
10. The proximity of florists like Cabbage Rose (5701 Kavanaugh Blvd.) and Tipton & Hurst (1801 N. Grant St.), banks, hospitals, bookstores (Wordsworth), art galleries, jewelry stores, pharmacies and even a service station that offers both self- and full-service and even has mechanics on duty.
To sum it up, the Heights neighborhood is the perfect “little town within a big city.”