25 March 2012

For Sale - One Home, Excellent Condition

When the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML and I graduated from college and headed to Phoenix, we thought we'd be there a good long time. We were (thankfully, if you ask me) wrong. More than a few things have changed since we leased our first apartment in the Valley of the Sun twenty-two years ago.  We began our life together behind the Wasatch Curtain, happily housed in Happy Valley, and from there it's been the Valley of the Sun to Southern California (best.house.ever) to the Midwest and now, New England.

It's on, people, yet another move.  Our house is listed and being shown - three showings and it's been on the market one day!  I can only hope/dream/have faith that this is a good sign.  We didn't even have three showings on our California house in six months when it was on the market. Of course, I firmly believe the day that we listed that house back in 2006 you could hear the enormous flushing sound that was the real estate market gleefully sinking into the sewer from which it is only now beginning to escape.  It would be awesome if this house would sell quickly.  It will make finding a new home a tad easier.  So if you could spare a prayer, a lighting of a candle, or the ritual slaughter of a goat to get this place sold, we'd be most appreciative.

As we signed the contracts on the house, SML and I couldn't help but feel a tinge of emotion.  We will miss this house.  It has been another place where we've created memories and endeavored to raise our children well.  It's been an imperfect effort as we are far from being a perfect family but we've tried really hard to make our home, regardless of where that's been, a place of love, peace, and refuge for our children.  SML and I firmly believe the words of Psalmist:

Children are an heritage of the Lord - Psalm 127:3

So we've tried to do right by them, regardless of where we've lived.  We'll keep doing that even though we are down to one full-time resident (The Boy) and one part-timer (CAL).  Our moves have taught us many things but have reminded us that home is what you make it.  It's not the four walls that make a home.  It's what you do with those who live inside that makes a home.  Doesn't matter if you are a party of one or a Clintonian "village" family, where there is a sense of peace, love, and security, there's a home.  I'll be glad to reestablish our home soon.  I'll be even happier when the current one sells!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Couldn't agree with you more. It's not the house but the people and love you pour into it. That being said, the house in CA was the best house ever. Near perfect floor plan. Good luck with the sale and hope the NE brings you more great memories.

Middle-aged Mormon Man said...

Good luck. I do have a quick tip: Don't perform the ritualistic goat slaughter while the house is being shown. It can be off-putting to some prospective buyers.