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Driving Across the Country Brings Back Memories

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 DRE# ER40011786

I was born in Omaha, but only lived there until I was 5.  Our family moved to Colorado, so MANY summer vacations and holidays were spent driving back to Omaha and parts of Iowa.   My mom and dad were from Iowa and Nebraska.

Driving through Omaha I saw the Missouri River, and gasped, it was SO big.   We don't have that much water in Colorado, and forgot how big it was.

Also, leaving Omaha, there were signs going to Council Bluffs.

My Dad's mom lived in Council Bluffs many moons ago, as she died decades ago.   I got a smile thinking about the times we spent at her house.   Climbing those VERY skinny stairs to the attic, the squeaking floors, and especially the green apple tree in the back yard.   We all loved climbing that tree.   She lived on the main thoroughfare, so thought I would see if I could see if her house was still there.

It had to be built in the 1800's or early 1900's, it was OLD!   I checked forewarn, and she didn't come up.   I pulled up the  map of Council Bluffs, and sure she was on Broadway, but no residencial lots on the south side of the street, where I know she lived.

I am sure with being right on the main boulevard, her home was prime real estate, and probably was torn down years and years ago.   

I wanted to drive by and remember parts of my childhood that were really good, but may not work out.

Posted by

Joan Cox
Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
House to Home, Inc.

Serving the Denver Metro area including all suburbs


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Comments(23)

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Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It's interesting to see what's happened to our childhood homes - mine is still there, but they've done all sorts of things to the property/house. Continue enjoying your trip!

Jun 12, 2025 05:15 AM
Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308
Stake Your Land Realty, Inc. - Eustis, FL
Broker/Owner, SFR®, e-PRO®, GRI, AHWD, REALTOR®

Joan Cox 

So happy for you, traveling all over. Keep enjoying your self and sharing your memories.

Jun 12, 2025 05:38 AM
Joe Mojica
Laer Realty Partners Bowen - Port St Lucie, FL
Your Home Adds Value to You

Joan - a trip that includes childhood memories is positive food for the soul. Continue to enjoy your trip.

Jun 12, 2025 05:47 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

Every so often when I head to NY I do the same thing. My mom and dad were both from Brooklyn and the homes they lived in are long gone. 

Jun 12, 2025 05:53 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Going back does invoke memories. I do remember early in my real estate career going back to the house I grew up in and it did stir memories when I still recognized areas that I left my nark on.

Jun 12, 2025 06:17 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Enjoy your visits back in time and to places filled with good memories. It is always good to remember the good times and the people as well.

Jun 12, 2025 06:35 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Joan Cox  I know when I drive by my childhood home and see the yard all cement and all the beautiful rose gardens gone, it breaks my heart—times gone by, all just a memory in our minds.  The great part is that I am still friends with most of my childhood friends  Enjoy your trip, Joan!

Jun 12, 2025 09:20 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nina Hollander, Broker I thought it would be so cool to see my Grandma's house, not happening!

Jun 12, 2025 12:43 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Joan Cox  I get it. Back in the 1980's I returned to my birth city of Rinteln in Germany... where I was born in an RAF hospital after WWII is now a park

Jun 12, 2025 12:51 PM
Joan Cox

Wow, that would have been interesting!

Jun 12, 2025 12:55 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Wayne, those good times growing up, will need to remain just as memories.

Jun 12, 2025 12:43 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kat Palmiotti several years ago I went to Nashville and found the home I lived in for a couple of years (3rd & 4th grades), not a very nice home these days!

Jun 12, 2025 12:44 PM
Kat Palmiotti

That's unfortunate!

Jun 12, 2025 12:49 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Thank you Katrina.

Jun 12, 2025 12:44 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Joe Mojica that sure was good for the soul, and nice to have such great memories.

Jun 12, 2025 12:45 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jeff, well, that is a bummer.

Jun 12, 2025 12:45 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Ed, at least it was still there!

Jun 12, 2025 12:46 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 do you get back to England to see your past homes?

Jun 12, 2025 12:46 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Hannah Williams that would be sad.  Kind of the way I felt going to Nashville and seeing that home we lived it.   It was not a nice area, and the home wasn't in good condition either.

Jun 12, 2025 12:47 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Some memories are meant to stay just as memories I guess!

Jun 12, 2025 12:47 PM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks so much for sharing your heartfelt story, Joan Cox. I really appreciate how you brought those memories to life and made me feel like I was right there with you. It’s a beautiful reminder of how our past shapes us, even when things change over time. 😊

Jun 12, 2025 02:15 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Joan- Larry's daughter lives in Omaha, and he was born in Clinton, Iowa!  It's always fun to return to places where you grew up and replay the memories of your childhood. 

Jun 12, 2025 07:00 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Joan - the combination of memory and time can be mixed up - at least for me. Earlier this month, I was talking with my mom.  She had long thought her mother was born in Iowa but learned recently that it was not there but in Southern Illinois.  

Jun 13, 2025 04:51 AM