Posted on 04/18/2018 7:08:10 PM PDT by Skooz
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.
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
Waiting for you to say it was in California!
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.
Very heart-warming story, and I wish you the best in your relocation.
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!
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!
I got it. Well played. ;)
~W
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.
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.
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.
May you find equal fulfillment in your new abode. God Bless.
Great vanity.
Wonderfully done.
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.
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.
Very nice.....
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
"A Place In the Sun" - Stevie Wonder
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.
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.
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 ...
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