On the day this post is published, the ties to my family home of forty-some years will have been severed – except those in our family’s hearts and minds. The memories do not need a physical address – they will be ever strong. 

From all the decisions that went into deciding to move, with all the angst in taking each step that led to today – it’s been an eye-opening, life-changing, love-affirming, exhausting, and soul-challenging process. 

Every corner of a family home has stories to tell. 

First steps. Squeals of laughter. Tears. 

Adventures in blanketed, indoor forts to explorations of vistas unknown in the backyard woods. Hide and seek at night. Lightning bugs.

Saw teeth marks between the brick steps made by a future carpenter. Scraped knuckles made on the side house wall, because the sidewalk was too narrow for Hot Wheels. Rides around the yard with Dad on the lawn mower. 

Two generations of children practicing their cooking skills in the kitchen. Biscuits-on-a-stick. Cookouts. Roller skating in the new garage until it got filled up.

Learning how to use tools, make things, repair things, and take care of things.

Music. Lots of music. Piano, trumpet, French horn, marimba, harp, and singing.

Empty nest.

The sweet anticipation of children returning home for visits. College. Careers. 

Cups of coffee taken on the back porch swing – lots of that.

Mostly love. 

Sometimes flawed love. 

Forgiving love. 

Old love and new love. 

Holding on and letting go.

Thank you, house. 

You were built in love. We watched you grow, too. Every corner, crevasse, crack, squeak – Oh, we know you well. 

With love I let you go, so someone new can build their memories here.

Perhaps there will be music, adventure, great family meals, and cups of coffee taken on the back porch swing. 

But mostly … love.

GOODNIGHT MOON by Eric Whitacre – Sung by Hila Plitmann

In health –

Deidre

GOODNIGHT MOON LYRICS

In the great green room

There was a telephone

And a red balloon

And a picture of –

The cow jumping over the moon

And there were three little bears sitting on chairs

And two little kittens

And a pair of mittens

And a little toy house

And a young mouse

And a comb and a brush, and a bowl full of mush

And a quiet old lady who was whispering, “hush”

Goodnight moon

Goodnight room

Goodnight cow jumping over the moon

Goodnight light

And the red balloon

Goodnight bears

Goodnight chairs

Goodnight kittens

And goodnight mittens

Goodnight clocks

And goodnight socks

Goodnight little house

Goodnight mouse

Goodnight comb

And goodnight brush

Goodnight nobody

Goodnight mush

And goodnight to the old lady whispering, “hush”

Goodnight stars

Goodnight air

Goodnight noises everywhere

Goodnight

Goodnight

Goodnight noises everywhere

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