Saturday, November 1, 2008

The Long Goodbye


(Click on the thumbnail to view larger image)


For the past year, The Husband and I have been immersed in this life change. We began looking at houses in Bear Valley Springs last October, and since then I have experienced the many stages of moving—the good, the bad, and the ugly. This past week escrow closed on our little house in Los Angeles—a few days early—and one day each week for the last two weeks we drove down to get the last of the things from the yard that had been left there to make an empty house look as though someone still cared for it. In other words, potted plants along with lawn furniture and ornaments that said, “No, this one isn’t abandoned, nor is is bank-owned.”

The people who bought our house are lovely, and I wish them many long years of love and happiness there. Still, my last hours walking around the yard—taking what was truly finally, One Last Look—the feelings of relief from shedding one mortgage from our monthly burden were mixed with sadness—the sadness of leaving an old friend. It was fitting that week before last I saw this crystal clear view of the mountains to the north. We didn’t see that view on a regular basis—it was often hazy. But, I remember well that when we first looked at the property (a little over twenty years ago, now) that view was what I first fell in love with. On a clear day in January, as I hobbled along the sidewalk to the front door—on crutches at that point, I turned to see this view and I was in love. I knew that unless the house was uninhabitable, I wanted to live there and heal while looking at those mountains.

It was a good house and a wonderful home.
I won't forget it.

6 comments:

  1. Hi Anita,

    Boy did you hit the nail on the head. You very clearly articulated exactly what I went through this summer. I wish you all the best in your new digs. I am sure you will have many years of happiness there too.

    Take care.

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  2. Beau - Thanks for stopping by. I'm so pleased that my post connected with you. Moving is certainly bittersweet, isn't it? I hope you are settling in and enjoying your new home. If your photographs are any indication, you are doing splendidly. Lately, I have been one of those nasty lurkers at your site—enjoying and taking without leaving all the "thank you" notes I should be leaving.

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  3. This post connected with me in a different way, Anita. I find it very interesting and, probably unusual, that you stayed in one place for 20 years.

    I remember growing up, we stayed in our house/home from the time that I was born until I left home, about 22 years almost.

    I always wanted to move to a bigger, better house, but we never did. When I lived on my own, I became, looking back, sort of a nomad. I've never, since leaving home, stayed in a house/location for more than 5 years.

    Having a conversation with my wife this morning, I said, after reading your post, that sometimes I wished that I had stayed in one place for that long, because ...

    Well, you've just spawned another post for me. Tune in tomorrow to find out what you have spawned. :-)

    I'm sure that you'll be happy in your new digs and your new start on life. Congratulations!

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  4. Paul - Now that's just cruel to make me wait for your next post. On the other hand, I am always looking forward to your next post, anyway.

    I did my nomad period early. At one stage of life, I moved nine times in ten years. That pretty much killed the nomad spirit in me. By the time we got to Shadow Hills, I was ready to settle. I am becoming more and more attached to my new digs and hope to be here for another twenty years. Thanks for the good wishes.

    I hope your new post goes up today.

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  5. Well, the new post will be going up tonight at 9:00 PM, your time. :-) Midnight here.

    That's pretty impressive, 9 times in 10 years. I can see why you'd want to settle! I've moved a lot, but not that much!

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Anita