I just cleaned out my childhood home of 51 years this past week.
I can’t even describe the number of emotions that flooded through me. It was very bittersweet as my mom and all of us 4 kids agreed it was the perfect time to sell in this market while Mom has been enjoying living in her home in Florida.
And it sold quickly– just 5 days on the market.
First, I am beyond grateful. None of us siblings live near each other or in Buffalo, where we grew up. But we all came in and spent lots of time sifting through memories together with lots and lots of laughs and love.
I admit that it was not all fun. There were so many papers full of dust which made it hard to breathe at times. Those masks really did come in handy cleaning out the house!
Plus, most nights I didn’t go to bed before 1 am with such a Herculean task in such a short amount of time. NOT a strategy that I ever intended or would approve, but it was to be.
However, we did squeeze in some visits with some childhood friends and cousins while we were “back home.”
In the end, we shredded over 250 pounds of paper, packed up about 50 bags of garbage, packed up 30 boxes to send over to my mom in Florida, replaced the water heater, doorbell and washer and lots of other “unexpected” surprises.
But the most meaningful parts were those hundreds and hundreds of pictures, old notes and letters, kids’ projects and lots of artwork. And also learning about the beautiful life my parents had.
My parents shared 56 years together before my father passed in 2016. And they shared 46 years together in this special house they made into a home. This was home to not only us siblings, but our children as well.
It really was quite a journey. Both happy and sad and completely exhausting. But the blessing was that the 4 of us, with my Mom on Facetime, got to share the memories (and the work!) together:).
Me, Mike and our two girls have moved 6 times over the past 30 years, so packing up and moving is nothing new to me.
In fact, our most challenging move was the most recent just about a year and a half ago when me and my husband, being empty-nesters, majorly downsized from our spacious house into a small 2-bedroom apartment in New York City.
So, obviously, there was a to leave behind and let go.
But the strange thing is that even with this last move, it didn’t come close to the feelings I had in packing up my childhood home.
I guess it’s when most of your memories come from that one home base, the place you always called home no matter how long it had been since actually living there.
While this chapter has just about officially closed, I will cherish the treasures I took back with me:
- I will find the warmth in that familiar and timeless red, white and pink afghan made by Aunt Fay.
- My family will now create our own special memories of the silver platter my mom always used during the holidays to hold drinks.
- Every time I drink out of the crystal glasses, I brought home, I will laugh at how my mom made all 6 of us in the family open up a free savings account at Western Bank so we could get the glasses as our “gift.”
- I will be reminded of my parents’ room every day as I admire the beautiful ballerina Lladro that was proudly displayed on the bedroom dresser and now sits on mine in the same exact position.
- I get to enjoy the sparkles of a small part of the collection of unique and fun Swarovski crystal animals that always delights my mom.
- I will think of my dad every time I sip tea from his favorite coffee mug.
And so much more.
I will not say officially goodbye, but simply welcome the start of a new chapter while being able to treasure the previous chapters in this very long and beautiful family memory book.
Thank you for allowing me to share in my journey and I hope you all have and discover beautiful memories to treasure and to pass on.
“It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.”
Live well and love more,
Jill
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