I recently learned that the first house that my husband and I shared was put up for sale. It seems like yesterday that we were having our wedding photos taken on the front lawn. It was a well-built house where many memories were built.
We decided to attend the open house to revisit this special piece of our past. I felt like a nervous wreck as we drove along the once familiar roads to the open house. As I entered the old neighborhood I felt like I had gone back in time. As our car turned onto our old street I felt as if my heart was about to explode. I was nervous. It was like meeting up with someone who I had once been in a close relationship with, but had not seen in years. Back in the day we shared so many great moments. However, I wondered if we had anything in common at this point in our lives. Would we catch up where we left off or would it be awkward? I felt anxious, nervous, happy, and excited. I didn’t know what to expect.
As I walked up the driveway towards the house I felt like I had stepped out of a time capsule. The end of the driveway had the same scent of fresh chopped wood that once housed the food for the cozy wood stove that lived inside. The driveway still made the same crunching sounds as I pressed my feet into the gravel one foot at a time. The flower boxes sat pressed into the front of the house welcoming us with cheer as we walked towards the side entry.
The backyard had been changed. What was once a small garden was now a patio. The kitchen had been updated, the bathroom had been painted, and some storage space had been created. It was a good feeling. The owners had maximized the usage of the space, which for such a small property took some creativity and talent. Nothing made me happier than to see how well the current owners took good care of what was once "our baby". The house had been improved, updates had been made, details had been paid attention to, the decor was perfected, and the outside had been well maintained. We spent about ten minutes enjoying the moment and taking in the past.
I had a sense of sadness within me as I walked towards my car from the open house and eventually drove away. It most likely was the last time we would spend time together. We used to be in a close relationship, it was great to catch up, but it was time to move forward. At this point I could only look back and smile as I thought of the memories that were created and still stood strong within the walls of the house. I felt like Demi Moore in the movie Ghost as our final goodbyes were exchanged after enjoying our last moments together. It was time to go and the house waived goodbye in it’s own way telling me it would do it’s job and welcome a new family who needed its love.
When we sold this home years back our realtor gave us a beautiful photo she had taken of the house, which now hangs framed in our bedroom. Looking at this framed photo always makes me smile. Having had the opportunity to step back into the house, see the color, feel the walls, and smell its forever perfume was a feeling of love, warmth, growth, and closure. The great thing about memories that unlike photos they can never be misplaced, damaged, or taken away. They will always be yours to enjoy.
http://www.newenglandmoves.com/real-estate/property/33-hawley-road-scituate-ma-02066/single-family-home/mls-71343184/3571054
