“Where I come from, a lot of front porch sitin’…”

Alan Jackson

My favorite place in the whole world is our front porch. Though it is welcoming in the winter, it is magical in the summer. Our old house had a puny, almost unwelcoming front porch (stoop), with one purpose – to walk over it to get into the house. My new front porch has many purposes, but it’s main purpose, to sit and visit. And, maybe where a mother robin likes to build her nest.

When I set out to write about my front porch, I was inspired by my Papa, who recently passed. He was all about front porch sitting. We spent a lot of time together sitting on the porch watching people, cars, or birds pass by. It was where we had the best snacks, and always the best talks.

Papa inspired my love of history. And what makes my front porch, and memories of his porch, even better is the tie the front porch has to American history. As ubiquitous as apple pie, the story of the front porch’s architecture paints a picture of how generations spent their time before TV and air conditioning. It was an outdoor living room, a place for family and friends to pass the time.

It is unfortunate that we let technology erase the front porch, which disappeared from house plans to be replaced by patios and decks in the privacy of the backyard. According to home magazines of the 1930s and 40s, the best way to modernize your home was to tear off the old-fashioned porch and add a simple, modern (puny) stoop.

Since moving from the West to the South, I have passed lots of time with family, new friends, and my own thoughts on the front porch. I have learned it is perfect for entertaining drop-in guests. There’s no need to worry about the tornado of kid debris that has taken over the inside living room when the porch is open and ready for company. Pro tip: Be sure to keep a pitcher of tea always at the ready for unexpected guests.

The front porch the best place to drink your morning coffee. The perfect stage for back-to-school pictures. An even better place to have supper after a hard day’s work with the family. And, it’s where I go when I miss my Papa. He never got to see our ranch, but I know he visits me on the porch – especially when I’m snacking on peanuts and a Pepsi.