I grew up in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, CA. My parents purchased their first home in 1968 when I was four years old. The house at 3216 Altura Walk is situated at the top of a hill. The only way to get to it was to park on the street, and then walk up two flights of stairs approximately 150 steps. It was a 2 BD, 1 BA, 1229 SQFT Craftsman home built in 1910. My parents paid $9,000 for this home; a princely sum for a couple of factory workers. We had moved from a tiny duplex not far away, and by comparison, this home was palatial. As a child this home seemed HUGE!

My family lived there for five years from the time I was 4 years old until I was 9 years old. I have many fond memories growing up in this house. Once every ten years or so, I’d drive by and walk up the two flights of stairs to see what had changed. From the sidewalk I could see all of downtown LA. I often wondered who lived there and what the home looked like on the inside, but I never knocked on the door.

Yesterday I was visiting a friend who lives in the area, and on my way home I decided to take a stroll down memory lane. Walking up the stairs I noticed much had changed. Once open lawns are now completely gated, and shrubs and trees cover the exteriors of most of the homes. As I approached my old home I saw a couple of ladies talking in the front yard, so I introduced myself and told them that I had lived there 50 years ago. One of the ladies recognized me. She, her husband, and her family had been neighbors when my family lived there, and they were the ones who bought the house from my parents.

She welcomed me with open arms and gave me a tour of the home. It was the most surreal experience. Here I was touring my childhood home. A home that I never thought I would ever see the inside of again. As I toured the home memories of my childhood flooded my mind.

For the most part it was exactly as I remembered it, except it felt so much smaller. Aside from some additions they had made, it was exactly the same. The current owners did a fabulous job of maintaining the beautiful hardwood floors and decorative molding around windows and doors.

I remember as a child looking out the dining room window and having a panoramic view of downtown Los Angeles. Back then City Hall towered over all the neighboring buildings. Today City Hall is dwarfed by modern skyscrapers.

I spent almost two hours talking to the current owners and talking about our memories of a much simpler time. Before leaving we exchanged phone numbers, and I hope to be back again one day soon.

(About the Author: Lou Serrano is a Los Angeles native currently residing in San Dimas, CA. He makes his living as a corporate entertainer and Southern CA real estate agent.)