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From 1951 until 2002, my Aunt
Sylvia lived in the small two-story house at 14 Juniper Avenue
in a suburb of New York. Over the course of those 51 years, she
saw people come and go, neighborhoods grow and change, children
become adults and move away, and then return with their own children.
Remaining consistent was the house, and residing within the walls
were reminders of all of the events and moments, big and small,
from across the years.
When Sylvia was 86 she was living
by herself. At some point, Sylvias fears of living alone
with potentially deteriorating health began to outweigh her emotional
ties to the house. In May, 2002, Sylvia moved into an apartment
complex with easy access to health care, and where she would be
part of a community without having to leave home.
In January before Sylvias
move, I began to take photographs of the house and of Sylvia at
home. At the same time, Sylvia shared her stories and memories.
We asked other family members to add their thoughts, and the project
became a collaboration, with the input and perspective of three
generations.
This final collection is a house-warming
present for Sylvia in her new apartment. We have moved on from
14 Juniper, but we take the memories with us.
Rachel
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