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Goodbye to My Home (vanity)
Skooz's House | 04/18/2018 | Skooz

Posted on 04/18/2018 7:08:10 PM PDT by Skooz

house

In September 2001, I bought the lot, covered in trees and so thick with brush you couldn’t walk through it. I cleared the land myself. We built the house in 2002, moving in on Labor Day. The columns on the front porch were my ex-wife’s excellent idea.

My father died four days after we moved in and I never got to show it to him.

My oldest daughter, age 11 when we moved here, entered adolescence and then womanhood in this home. I met her nervous first dates on that porch.

When my youngest daughter was born, I carried her through that door two days later. Her first steps were in the living room; she read her first words in the kitchen. She spoke her first words, I think, in her bedroom. That’s it behind the middle dormer.

We have played, oh, about 3 million hours of board games on her carpet.

The Best Dog Ever is buried in the back yard, under a branch that somehow sprouts flowers every winter.

I’ve spent numberless hours making this house a home; laying the flooring, installing fixtures, chopping down trees, planting trees, clearing brush, building a fence, painting, painting, painting. I spent two winters crawling under it, installing insulation. My blood is in this place.

Three hurricanes have pounded that roof. I went through three chainsaws cutting down trees. In May 2009, by myself, I built a deck in the back. It’s 16‘ X 24’ and I think it’s pretty nice.

I lived almost 1/3 of my life here, longer than I have lived anywhere else. The best days and worst days of my life I spent here; from days of rapturous, transcendent blissful happiness to days of crippling, heart-wrenching, despair – these walls have seen it all.

I lived here married, lived here through a divorce, lived here as a newly liberated newly single man. Here, hope has gone full circle: The sun rose, set, took its sweet time traversing the other side of the globe, then rose again – right on time – brighter than ever.

I’ve been trying to sell this place for years. The reasons we built here (proximity to my ex-wife’s job and eldest daughter’s school) have long ago run their course. Neither live here anymore.

But, now that I’m moving, my mind is filled with reasons to miss the old place. To underscore that refrain, the most amazing wisteria explosion on earth, which covers the vacant lot next door every March, just came into full bloom yesterday. I always open the windows and let the fragrance waft through the house. There is nothing like it. Nothing.

I’ve prayed for a new house and God answered right on time. I’m grateful. But, a large part of my heart will always be within these walls, wandering the huge back yard, crawling around the attic.

It’s a high maintenance house and I lack the time to provide the attention it needs. My new home is much more practical. I suppose it’s something like going from a turbulent, passionate affair to something more stable and comfortable.

It’s time to move. I’m looking forward to it.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bittersweet; frhalloffame; godblessyoufreeper; home; memories; nostalgia
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To: Skooz

Beautiful house and well written, as others have said.

Having moved an average of every 18 months for over twenty years, dragging wife and kids along, I will tell you that your home is where your blood is. Growing up? I never lived in a place longer than a couple years. Very mobile I suppose.

Your Home isn’t the place where you spilt blood sanding, scraping, painting, building. But your real blood. Your family and friends.

I wish blessings on you moving to a new house, but I think you will have a home wherever you go.

Kit


41 posted on 04/18/2018 7:58:52 PM PDT by KitJ (Shall not be infringed...)
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To: Skooz

Waiting for you to say it was in California!


42 posted on 04/18/2018 7:59:02 PM PDT by Portcall24
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To: Skooz

You had me feeling sad for you when reading your sweet memories .. with the house being such a part of your life and all.

But you seem at peace with it so best wishes for your next chapter.


43 posted on 04/18/2018 7:59:10 PM PDT by Heart of Georgia (truth will trump their lies)
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To: Skooz

Very heart-warming story, and I wish you the best in your relocation.


44 posted on 04/18/2018 8:02:36 PM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: Skooz

Great read.   Thanks for sharing.   (I agree with the others here, who suggest that you should consider writing professionally -- if you don't already.)

Somehow, after reading your post, I am quite certain that you will thrive wherever your future leads you, and I wish you all the best!

45 posted on 04/18/2018 8:05:29 PM PDT by Songcraft ("Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
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To: Maine Mariner

I teach at North Dakota State University. Lots of wonderful houses with character in that area. I hope you are able to find someone who really appreciates it!


46 posted on 04/18/2018 8:08:31 PM PDT by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: Moonman62

I got it. Well played. ;)

~W


47 posted on 04/18/2018 8:09:39 PM PDT by wheresmyusa (A knight without armor in a savage land...)
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To: Skooz

We close on our home April 30. We lived there 23 years. We are happy in our smaller home and will build new memories here, but we will always have a place in our heart for the place we are selling.


48 posted on 04/18/2018 8:10:24 PM PDT by freemama
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To: Skooz

Every word was part of a beautiful experience. Thank you.

Look forward now. Life in some future moments will be wondrous, too. There are always more souls ahead to help.


49 posted on 04/18/2018 8:12:56 PM PDT by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: Yaelle
"Oh, and vacant lot? Isn’t that where the homeless and their poop and needles congregate? "

Wull...that's here. In Louisiana I'm certain that they know how to discourage Urban Campers faster than they can park their shopping carts. BTW, saw one yesterday in Yorba Linda right by Trader Joe's.

50 posted on 04/18/2018 8:15:24 PM PDT by Pelham (California, a subsidiary of Mexico, Inc.)
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To: Skooz
Deeply moving, Skooz.

May you find equal fulfillment in your new abode. God Bless.

51 posted on 04/18/2018 8:16:42 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Skooz

Great vanity.

Wonderfully done.


52 posted on 04/18/2018 8:29:26 PM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
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To: Skooz

We have lived in our house for 38 years, my husband has lived here 57 years, it is his childhood home. He wants to move when we retire, I don’t.


53 posted on 04/18/2018 8:31:11 PM PDT by tiki
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To: Skooz

Good luck in your new home. You’ll always have the memories from the old place, but you’ll also create new memories at your new home. I’ve never owned a home, and in a way, at this point in my life I’m glad I never did. I’ve always lived in apartments, raised my two sons in them, and all three of us have continued to live in our own apartments. I would have loved to have owned a home when my kids were little, but back then I couldn’t afford it. Now that I’m old, I don’t need a house. No more moves for me. They’ll have to carry me out of this place.


54 posted on 04/18/2018 8:35:02 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Skooz

Very nice.....


55 posted on 04/18/2018 8:38:18 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: Skooz

Life is good, isn’t it FRiend... Thank you for sharing, and may God continue to bless and strengthen you, wherever you call home.

Tatt


56 posted on 04/18/2018 8:44:30 PM PDT by thesearethetimes... (Had I brought Christ with me, the outcome would have been different. Dr.Eric Cunningham)
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To: Skooz

I'm not a big fan of some of the political views expressed by Stevie Wonder, but I put that aside when it crossed my mind that this song sort of reflects some of the emotions drifting through your powerful narrative.

       "A Place In the Sun" - Stevie Wonder

57 posted on 04/18/2018 8:46:45 PM PDT by Songcraft ("Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
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To: KitJ; Skooz

Kit, it is rare that I get through a day feeling as warm and peaceful and happy that you - with your wonderful reply to Skooz - and Skooz with that equally wonderful paean to his home, are each on FR and chose to share your feelings about home, family and chosen family...Thank you and may all of you be blessed.


58 posted on 04/18/2018 8:51:00 PM PDT by Postman (The Flies, having defined BHO and HRC, are quickly moving on to Nancy P.)
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To: Skooz

Very nicely written.
Reminds me of the house I left behind.Raised my two kids there and many many memories. The neighborhood never came up like we hoped. We finally moved to a great new area in the country. The timing was right but we ask ourselves why did we wait so long. Since that time our original house has been repossessed and abandoned. (Another story) To see the house we cared about and put so much into boarded up and deteriorating is heartbreaking. The only consolation is to remind ourselves it is now just a house we made it a home when we lived there.
Best of luck in your new home.


59 posted on 04/18/2018 9:00:24 PM PDT by shoff (Vote Democrat it beats thinking!)
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To: Skooz

I feel your pain!! I am going through the same thing myself right now.

I live in a hillside home on a quiet, deadend street overlooking Honolulu. My Dad built it in 1965. He worked at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and had the shop guys moonlight on it. Those guys could build Anything from a set of plans! My own family took over when we had babies. I’ve been here since I was 11!

I’ve been sick and I’m completely exhausted packing and getting everything out of here. I’m kind of numb to the pain, which is maybe a good thing. It will probably hit me as I close the door for the last time.

But, like you, I have sunshine on the horizon. We are moving to Kamuela on the Big Island which is ranch country. We have a sweet home that we will share with my daughter and her husband. It’s a beautiful spot on the planet that I’ve always loved.

Sending you big FR Aloha ...


60 posted on 04/18/2018 9:01:01 PM PDT by Island Girl
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