A couple of weeks ago I made a post about the Vancouver Special playhouse that we released in 2011, sharing the fact that it was an imminent danger of being demolished if we didn't find it a "forever home" within 3 days. The Special originally lived in the front yard of a house my family was renting in Mt Pleasant but when we moved back into a condo we had loaned it to some friends who kept it on their lawn, until they moved as well, and the landlord wanted it gone. Like now.
Jason Sokolowski worked with me on the project, being interviewed in the METRO, and by Margaret Gallagher on CBC RADIO when we first built it. He brought my vision to life, designing it and doing the physical construction, and when we were originally looking for a new home for the thing a year and a half ago I asked him if he and his family might be able to take it. As a condo-dweller himself, he couldn't, so I didn't even think to ask him when the emergency of finding it a new home arose.
The response to the public call that I made asking if anyone could help by taking it off of our hands was overwhelming. I received more than 50 heartfelt letters from families who not only appreciate the spirit of this little piece of Vancouver but also its practicality as a playhouse that they wanted to bring into their own backyards (or front yards) for their kids to play in. At the eleventh hour the Sokolowskis reached out letting me know that they could take it now, so it's landed in the yard of their relatives who have a two young daughters and a son who is my son's age. To everyone who sent in letters saying that you wanted it, thank you for reassuring me that I'm not the only person who thinks this is a really awesome thing that we created. It's now in the hands of a family who will cherish it for years to come.
