Goodbye House

I hold in my hand the checks from the sale of our old house. We finally (FINALLY!) sold our home and closed yesterday. The checks arrived via overnight mail this morning. While there is some relief the deed is done, there is some sadness mixed in. We put so much of ourselves into that house. Every project, each room, every wall had our stamp on it. We painted, we sanded, we knocked out walls. We redid cabinetry and landscaping. We picked each color for every single room with great care and deliberation. I painted trim for months. Chris learned how to put in a bathroom sink and shower. I painted doors. Chris learned how to tile a kitchen floor. For years, we became home improvement junkies and put our heart and soul into creating a home.

We brought two of our babies home from the hospital to that home. We celebrated Chris's MBA graduation and two first birthdays. We laughed and cried in that home. I loved the swingset in the backyard, a hand me down from our neighbors across the street. I loved the lilac trees that bordered our property line and the abundant trees gracing our property. I loved our newly remodeled kitchen and beautiful tile. I loved to read in the family room or spend time watching the trees sway in the breeze. I loved the hardwood floors, the fireplace, and our huge living room. I loved the memories we made in our home.

That home is now someone elses. We left them a bottle of champagne to celebrate their new home and wished them many years of happy memories. I hope they have as many wonderful memories as we did. I hope that house becomes their home.

Goodbye Home.