Goodbye Old Friend
This week my family said goodbye to my Mom and Dad’s house. The home that’s been in the family for the last twelve years or so. The dream home they built together high on a hill, adjacent to the family farm. A place where everything was brand new with little to no worries for them. An easy transition from the place my bothers, sister and I grew up in just across the street.
After my Dads passing three years ago, my Mom felt the house was too big for her. It was a lot of house for such a little lady, and over the last year determined it was time to sell and move to warmer weather to live with my sister. A decision she didn’t take lightly.
As soon as the decision was made, my two brothers and I that live in the area, felt like it was the beginning to the end of an era. Truth be told, I’ve been in a funk and out of sorts since. Like part of my identity was fading into the background.
I know that isn’t true but it sure feels like it. I’m a farm girl through and through and have many fond memories of shared adventures with my siblings on that piece of land. I’m thankful the farm will remain in the family and my brother Jeff will continue planting the yearly sweet corn crop.
I imagine this isn’t an easy transition for my Mom either. The farm and the land is the only place she’d ever called home. It was her family farm and land from the time she was born. With this change she’s leaving her friends, church family and most of her children and grandchildren to begin a new and happy chapter.
We’ve been busy for several weeks, packing, discarding, cleaning, saving, donating and emptying the home. It’s been an emotional journey. When I pulled into the driveway for the very last time, my heart broke a little. I quickly came to love that beautiful house high on the hill. It meant ease, stability, comfort, love and family. I loved it so much because my parents loved it so much. It was the place they lived and ultimately the place my Dad took his last breath. Whenever I entered the doors I always felt him with me. It’s hard to no longer be physically connected to the house.
As I entered the home one last time, I spent a few moments in each empty room reliving wonderful memories of family gatherings and waited for a sign of my Dad to appear. Perhaps a cardinal or yellow finch through the windows, but nothing came. After feeling a little deflated I was suddenly filled with emotions that I’ll always have the memories and stories of family. They’ll be locked in my heart forever.
Goodbye old friend……I’m going to miss you. It’s hard to say farewell but I’ll take comfort in knowing the new family will be just as happy. Here’s to the beginning of a new chapter for my Mom as well for the entire family.
xoxox…..Sheryl
