People hate to say goodbye.
Most people would rather say "See you later" even if they know it isn't true.
In October 2008, my grandfather passed away and we stood graveside, tears rolling down our face. We said, "We will see you later, Pap!"
In November 2014, my grandmother passed away and we stood graveside, tears rolling down our face. We said, "We will see you later, Grams!"
Since then, my dad has been diligently working on their house. The clearing out and selling of the contents and recently the final process of selling the house. The problem here is that we can't say "See you later, house!" because it is being sold to someone who plans on changing the inside. To someone who has no semblance of the memories we have had in the house.
In 1966 the house was built; my dad was 3 years old. In 1986 my older sister was born and in 1989 I came along. From the time we were born, that was our house! Pictures in our photo albums are mainly taken at the address, we were there before the Wal-Mart shopping center was even thought of. It was a giant open field where I learned how to drive my first four wheeler. Their yard is where I practiced my tee-ball skills with my pap yelling "You play the way you practice!" and "C'mon, Stephie catch the ball!" and that famous one "What the hell you swinging at, girl?!" I ran around without my shirt on (sometimes my pants too), we would take bike rides to the field to pick Bluebells. I would loose my tooth in the living room trying to dress the Ken doll.
I can go on and on and on of the things that I remember from this house. And while I want to scream, "I will see you later!!" I know this one is a "goodbye". To my kids, this will just be another house we pass while driving on route 40. They won't know the phone number I grew up remembering as 301-733-2550. They won't know the address is so similar to the phone number that I was always getting things confused- 17550 Swann Road. But what they will know is all the things I tell them. The memories and the photos and the stories that I share with them.
While this is a goodbye, it is also a hello. A hello to the future and the memories we share and create.
Most people would rather say "See you later" even if they know it isn't true.
In October 2008, my grandfather passed away and we stood graveside, tears rolling down our face. We said, "We will see you later, Pap!"
In November 2014, my grandmother passed away and we stood graveside, tears rolling down our face. We said, "We will see you later, Grams!"
Since then, my dad has been diligently working on their house. The clearing out and selling of the contents and recently the final process of selling the house. The problem here is that we can't say "See you later, house!" because it is being sold to someone who plans on changing the inside. To someone who has no semblance of the memories we have had in the house.
In 1966 the house was built; my dad was 3 years old. In 1986 my older sister was born and in 1989 I came along. From the time we were born, that was our house! Pictures in our photo albums are mainly taken at the address, we were there before the Wal-Mart shopping center was even thought of. It was a giant open field where I learned how to drive my first four wheeler. Their yard is where I practiced my tee-ball skills with my pap yelling "You play the way you practice!" and "C'mon, Stephie catch the ball!" and that famous one "What the hell you swinging at, girl?!" I ran around without my shirt on (sometimes my pants too), we would take bike rides to the field to pick Bluebells. I would loose my tooth in the living room trying to dress the Ken doll.
I can go on and on and on of the things that I remember from this house. And while I want to scream, "I will see you later!!" I know this one is a "goodbye". To my kids, this will just be another house we pass while driving on route 40. They won't know the phone number I grew up remembering as 301-733-2550. They won't know the address is so similar to the phone number that I was always getting things confused- 17550 Swann Road. But what they will know is all the things I tell them. The memories and the photos and the stories that I share with them.
While this is a goodbye, it is also a hello. A hello to the future and the memories we share and create.
This is one of my favorite ways to remember the house--
With Pap and Grams vehicles parked out front.
~~How Lucky Am I To Have Something That Makes Saying Goodbye So Hard?
-Winnie the Pooh
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