February 6, 2009In 2001, my husband Rob & I were first-time home buyers when we met John & John at an open house. By early Summer we were closing on 3738 Gunston Road, and our love affair with Parkfairfax had begun. It was a romance that would only last for 2 years, but it left a big impact on my life. The early months were filled with hard work, as we stripped paint down to beautiful plaster and demolished the kitchen walls. I learned a lot about home ownership and remodling, and that a girl can fall in love with a Viking range as easily as she can a GE. When the work started wrapping up and we came up for air, Rob & I were able to finally start appreciating the finer points of life in Parkfairfax. We had an easy commute to Alexandria and DC, the pedestrian bridge to Shirlington made for a nice stroll to dinner or a movie, and, as Spring rolled around, we began to enjoy nature awakening all around us. This is unexpected in Northern Virginia, that you could live a stones throw from 395 and still be surrounded by tall trees and beautiful gardens. I often think of my neighbor Trudy Gongorra's, and wish that I had taken the time to learn more about gardening from her. I also miss the azalea sale, and hope that it is still thriving. Rob & I have been living in Williamsburg for almost 6 years now, but we return to the area for work or to catch a show at the Birchmere. We drive through the neighborhood every chance we get. And we're happy to still count all of the John & John Team - John, John, David and Carter - as our friends. Alison Heittman