Jake’s idea this week is Stairway! http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/sunday-post-stairway/
Doesn’t that just make you think of all kinds of things? It makes me think of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 4″ risers on staircases, pictured here. 
It also makes me think of the amazing staircases in Gone With the Wind….
So many movies have scenes with staircases. I currently live in a 2-story home. When our son was learning to climb staircases, though we lived in a 2nd floor apartment. There were concrete steps that led up to the apartments on the second floor, with open risers. So we would always do a call and response chant as we ascended and descended. My husband or I would say the bold face, and he would respond what i have in italics:
Hold the
railing
safety
first
that’s what
counts!
He never once let go of the railing, and never once fell.
I have one more lovely photo of a staircase to include~it is the front staircase to the Margaret Barry Settlement House. My great-grandmother and some of her friends established it to help new immigrants…..I would imagine that many of the people that she and her friends helped considered it a Stairway to Heaven of sorts.
Believe Anyway 
I imagine that was true, Kate! My Grandmom came to New York from Italy, well, actually twice. The first time, the officials refused her entry because she had a cough. She made it here again, stayed, and married my Grandpop from Philly. It’s hard to imagine her being torn up by the roots and resettled in a place where she had to learn everything! So the staircase to the hospitable Margaret Barry House probably looked wonderful to newbies here.
Staircases are so intriguing. I loved hearing about your little boy’s safety ritual! So wise of you and your husband.
Maria
How cool that you have roots in Philly..we lived outside Philly in southern NJ for a number of years. Your grandmom sounds like a very brave lady; full of determination.
Forgive my lack of response, dear Jerseyite! I was born in Camden and have lots of relatives in Southern Jersey, the Truck Garden capital of the world. I grew up in Yeadon, PA, just outside West Philly.
Grandmom was kind of uprooted because my Grandpop wanted the best for her and the children and settled in a neighbor with all kinds of people, where she/they would have to learn American ways and language. When he died after their long life together, it was devestating for her. Never thought of her as brave but she was forced to be on lots of occasions. Wish that she had lived longer, so that as an adult I could have known her not just as Grandmom, but as a friend.
Love ya!
Maria
I swear, Kate–if you ever leave Blogville, I’m going to hunt you down. It is such a fresh breath of positive (Holy Spirit) air to come here!! I love the staircases–“Gone With the Wind”, especially. And I so love the call and response chant!! Wow, what a great idea that is–something practical I can implement in my day–thank you so much for that!! It may even make for a new poetry challenge….hmmm. Gotta write that down to ponder some more. God bless your day, Sis–sending prayers for your mom, husband and son, and always for you–our Head Cheerleader!! love, sis Caddo
Caddo–that cracked me up (“i’m going to hunt you down” LOL!) That call and response worked like a charm. It was a good thing as it was two stories of open concrete stairs with a railing….God bless your day too, sweet friend 🙂
A wonderful legacy to share. The stories that building could tell. That is love in action. Thank you for sharing that Kate!
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your words are as beautiful as sun on the water, my friend.
You hit the Great entry for this week topic Kate , Nice work 🙂
Thanks buddy~ I had a good time with it. Thanks for always inspiring us!
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A great post Kate!
thanks gilly~you are so sweet.