The House

I was three when we moved into my childhood home.  I remember the first night in the house.  My parents put me to sleep on the hardwood floor in what would become the dining room.  I fell asleep as they carried in box after box, late into the night.

My bedroom was next to theirs so they could hear me if I cried.  There was only one window and really dark.  The room had an eve in it and my grandfather put in a skylight for us.  After that, my room was really bright, even in cloudy weather.  I loved it growing up.   Pink was my favorite color when I was three and of course I picked a pink rug for my room.  I really wanted all pink wall paper but my mother, in her wisdom, refused (she hates pink.)  I ended up with floral wallpaper that had pink in it but also had blue and some other colors.  As a teen I was very thankful my whole room was not pink and it was no longer my favorite color!

I played Barbies and talked on the phone with friends for hours in that room.  I had countless sleepovers talking about the things that girls talk about growing up: nail polish and fashion and boys.  I graduated high school and returned from college to that room.  I moved to Asia and moved back into that room for a year when I returned after three years. 

It’s hard to think that that house will no longer by my mom’s house. I hate that my daughter will not know that house, the house that I grew up in.  Practically I know the house, with close to two thousand square feet is too large for my mom.  I still wish there was some way we could keep it.  I know it’s just a house but it was home for so many years.  I know I will always be welcome in any house my mom has because it’s my mom and NOT the house that is welcoming.

The last night was spent similar to the first, sleeping on the floor.  We had air mattresses this time and it was my mom, Munchkin & I.  I didn’t sleep as well as that first night in the house, but Munchkin did.  The sleep of babes is sweet and deep.  She won’t remember that night in the house but I will.  It means a lot to me. I’ll cherish it as I look forward to making memories with my family in a new house.