*The House Who Loved Me

Today

When we first moved in, I knew we would be here for no more than 5 years. Such was the plan, to me, not so sure about my husband. I think he got his secret wish to put down roots among the trees and stay here.

(The MLS picture from way back when. It looks lonely to me now, obviously waiting for us. )

It wasn't big, it wasn't fancy, it wasn't a dream house, but we had to move quickly since our old house was sold. I was doing design work for larger houses and of course that was what I wanted, too. I was young and dumb. But that's OK when you are young. Life is for learning who we are. It was the oak tree lined street that brought us here, and helped keep us here.

Today this house makes me smile everytime I come home. I love that we are close to downtown, something that meant nothing at first. It is in an older area with oak lined streets, which was always extremely important to us.

More than anything else, this home is a symbol of the unconditional love of my husband. Whatever ideas I came up with, he has always worked and worked to accomplish it.

The front porch area with gable added early in the remodeling.

It was built to last forever. It has beautiful wood floors, hand troweled plaster walls and ceilings and a large yard. Aaaaah...

it's all so good...

Well, not quite. We have worked and worked on this house for 20 years and now it's time to do more work. The small bathrooms need to be gutted, but we won't be doing the grunt work this time. We will let someone else enjoy it and be happy to pay them to do so.

The backyard, once filled with shrubs and flowers, is totally torn up awaiting the final plans. The front yard, lush and green at the beginning of last year, was a dinner for bugs before we could stop them. So another big project.

When it gets overwhelming looking at the work to do, I have thought of moving. But then I walk through the house and all the memories of this labor of love by me and my husband flood my mind. I want the next generation to be touched by this house.

In the last couple of years, in the good times or when I was sick, when we went through the eye of a (small) hurricane, this house loved and sheltered us, no matter what. It is not big, but it holds us safely in her walls. It is not new, but it shelters us with strength. It is a challenge at times, but it looks like our future, as well as our past. Except the missing gardens in the back. But stay tuned, and hopefully that too will be a reflection of us again sometime soon.