The Past and Future Memories of a House

The peeling paint on the siding and the broken bricks on the sidewalk gently remind me of their 107 years as I soak in the 2-story white wonder, imagining what it looked like when it was young. I slowly walk around, peeking in windows when I can, seeing the shell of what's to come when the work's done.

Another family's story is contained in these walls. Each creak of the floor, each window seat, each fire in the fireplace has been the backdrop of their memories. It has seen a family grown, children grow into adults, children taking care of their parents. It has held birthdays and holidays, hot summer nights and cold snowy days. The yard has been a jungle to explore, a perfect wedding spot, and has kissed many bare feet running through the grass.

The sun makes the violets glow a vibrant purple as it sets. I gather a bouquet from the thicket of flowers, shivering from the cold but glowing with happiness. I turn around and walk back toward the house, smelling the violets and smiling.

This house has known many memories with another family, but memories with our family await it. My nephew will remember this house as Nana and Papa's house, the house he gets to do his growing up in. There is so much exploring awaiting his little feet, and there are so many gatherings that our family will have there as it grows and changes. I realize that someday my kids will think of it as Nana and Papa's house, too. Whoa.

I pause as I put my car in reverse to leave, and I smile at the house one more time. It can't tell me the stories it has already seen, but we can share the stories that will be it's future.

~"A house with a memory; it's more than a house/It was once home to me."[-"A House I Once Knew" - Leo VanMeer]~