I didn’t think it would hurt so much to say goodbye to my childhood home.
I haven’t lived there in a very long time – a decade or so – yet I’m sad to see it go
Memories of basketball in the backyard, wrestling with my brothers and crying over boys
Talking on the phone - the phone cord stretched from the kitchen to the hall to the living room couch where I sat
Slamming my brother’s finger in the front door – or did he pull it shut? We’ll never know.
Dressing in a rubber suit to shovel snow and ice off the back patio – while my dad fought the flu
Chasing our new puppy around the backyard
Saying goodbye over our family dog’s grave
Smiling for graduation pictures
Smiling for wedding photos one, two..three times
Crying on the front porch the night before I left for college
Crying in my room the night of my first breakup
Sitting in the kitchen while my parents told me about my grandfather dying, my grandmother dying, my uncle and aunt….
Being sent to my room….more than a few times
Dancing like a mad woman to music in my room
Finding a cabbage patch doll in the closet – left by Santa
Teaching my little brother in our basement classroom
My parents kissing all of the time and fighting some of the time
Watching them hold their new grandbabies
Food. So much food
Love. So much love
So many precious memories…
The house may belong to someone else …but the memories will be ours forever.
I know you're too big for the baby swing, but let's use it just for today,
I know you can do it by yourself, but let Mommy help you anyway.
I know you're not a baby anymore, but sweetheart, it's Mommy who just isn't ready to let you go...
Maybe, if I hold you a little tighter, you'll stay my baby forever...
Or maybe, I can hold those memories tight, and watch you soar.
