I've been humming that old Dionne Warwick song, "A
House Is Not a Home."
After years of discussing it, hubby and I finally decided it
was time to downsize. The house where we've lived for 24 years was perfect to
raise four children. But now, it's too big and too much to maintain, and for my
husband with bad knees, has way too many steps.
But of course, deciding to move from the house where you've lived longer
than any other place on this earth, is so emotionally complicated that, at
least for me who is the poster child for never changing anything, the decision
was tough to swallow, even as I knew it was right.
Still, I put on my big girl panties, limited myself to
occasional bouts of tears, and started getting the house ready for market. The
marching orders from our realtor were simple. "Get rid of everything that
has any relationship to you and your family." Okay, I exaggerate a little,
but the principle was that we were to move our house to Neutral Zone , USA
What broke my heart? When the paint crew transformed the
sponge-painted yellow bedroom of my daughter, with her initial that had been carefully
painted over the bed, and the door of stickers and signs that said "Keep
Out," into what essentially looked like a beige motel room. Sigh.
We gave away or stored multiple pieces of furniture and decorative accessories. Despite being a sentimental wuss, I became ruthless, constantly keeping the goal in mind that we wanted buyers to see the beautiful bones of this old house. With everything cleared out, the house painted from top to bottom in Navajo White, the closets, drawers, and basement a testament to my husband's organizing ability, and after countless trips to thrift stores to donate and landfills to dump – the house was ready to sell.
And it did. It opened on a Friday morning and by Monday
night we had an accepted offer. Nice couple who are going to raise their lovely
family in this house that has been our home, our embracing shelter.
And this past week, we started a new chapter. Our bid for a
new, smaller home, a mile from our current location, was accepted. Doesn't have
the sprawling comfort of our old house. But also doesn't have three full
flights of stairs! And I am reminded that while our old house is
architecturally just what I like, it is the people I love who have made it a
home. And Thank God, that hasn't changed. Family and friends can still
gather around for important and not-so-important occasions – and in the
end, that's what makes a collection of bricks a home.
Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David
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Murder Off the Books Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Doubles Back Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Ghosts of Lottawatah - trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 - I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 - A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Romances
Love Lessons - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Marian, you're my role model. Lately, my husband and I have been talking about leaving our big, old house and finding something smaller that's all on ground level. (I'm the one who has problems with all the stairs anymore.)
ReplyDeleteI've lived in this house for 37 years through one husband and two children and another husband and another child. I want to begin with decluttering and getting rid of everything that we can while we're still living here. Then, we can fix it up and try to sell it. But what a daunting task! I admire you so much for accomplishing it.
Congrats on your new home! May it be as warm and welcoming as the old one always was!
I know this day is coming. We've been in this house for 35 years, two kids, seven dogs (several of who are buried in the yard - dogs, not kids), and many visits from four grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I dread it.
Who stole the "m" off my "whom"?
ReplyDeleteFirst it is such a relief to know no one buried children in the yard,,,,mine would have been much to noisy for that.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of your organization and ambition. And it will be wonderful for you. Take some pictures out the windows so you have those views to savor for a time.
Best of luck in your new home....and I am looking forward to the new book!
Congratulations and best of luck in your new home.
ReplyDeleteand
Thank you.
Good luck with your new home. I'm sure you will fill it with love, just as you did before.
ReplyDelete