August 9, 2010
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This Old House
I was vacuuming my dad's place the other day. He sleeps in my old bedroom. As I vacuumed the carpet, I remembered the day it was installed. It wasn't a new carpet - it was actually from my dad's workplace. They were getting rid of it and part of it was still in decent shape. So my dad took the discarded carpet home and found someone to install it. As I vacuumed the room, I made a mental list of things that needed attention. The list grew longer and longer by the time I got to the living room.
The light bulb on one lamp needed to be replaced. There is paint peeling in the bathroom. A curtain needed to be dry cleaned. The blinds needed to be replaced. The windows should be cleaned. There's a hole in the screen door. The kitchen could use a good scrubbing. The carpet probably could be replaced. The fibers in the carpet don't even stand up anymore when I vacuum them.
This house has served my family very well. But it's getting old. The garage has a crack in the wall. The plumbing and electrical systems are outdated. Yet it is still hanging in there waging a good fight. He keeps everyone dry and warm in the winter time. The floors creak and groan with age now. I watch my dad slowly puttering around as I drag the vacuum cleaner. His posture is hunched over and his fingers are gnarled with age. He too is waging a good fight. He told me today that as he ages, every thing in his body feels as if they are slowly falling apart. I nod sympathetically
The old house and my old man. They are still holding on, each playing the role of the protector. I love those two dearly.
Comments (23)
I love how you wrote the last few lines- the part with each playing the role of protector. I guess, the older you get... the more attached you become to home.
Beautifully written, Matt. So does your father use your old Snoopy sheets or did you take those with you to the condo? LOL Just kidding...
i like this entry matt,
and reminds me , not that i need reminding of my own body aging.
i mean the mind plays tricks...you feel like you are 20 and your body says ' no way!'
i prefer not to look in mirrors any more because what i think in my mind is not what i would see... still the house may age as you say and your
dad may age and even YOU may age though remember this ...it is only this moment you are in! funny thing a house ages and a body ages ,
though it is the people that make the house alive! the ' light ' of the house is the people in it. just like your body ages yet it is the
'LOVE' for your dad and his 'LOVE' for you that never grows old...
LOVE is...
I love the comparison of the two things you hold dear in your heart Matt. Beautiful. And, I love how you're taking care of them both with such tenderness.
Love it Matt! I keep telling my sister I am not sure which will go first me or the house as we both fall apart.
Good post, Matt. We are more or less in the same place, though I've still got Mom 86 in a few weeks... Take care, my friend.
This was really beautiful. It's great to have someone/something to love. It's something to cherish always.
I like this a lot. *Hugs*
very touching post. i like the idea of each protecting the other; of people living in symbiosis with their homes.
As is many times Matt, you've touched a soft spot in my heart
with your post. Your thoughts, emotions and written word are
joined together so sweetly.
Thanks for sharing your inner feelings so freely.
Be well,
*~matthew~*
Yeah nothing wrong with old at all.
You touched me deep inside my heart again Matt. Love you, your dad and your old home.
What a lovely post ! I don't know what age your dad is, but I hope he (and his home) have many years still to come !
Did you use a Dyson?
@Dezinerdreams - yeah, it's been our only home since we came to Canada. It's old, kind beat up but it's still home for me.
@christao408 - thanks Chris, sometimes these things just come to me just before I sleep. After I wrote that I was actually able to sleep well. And... I took my bed and the sheets with me. hee hee...
@luvmei - I can definitely feel my body aging too. Those joints are getting a bit creaky.
@heart_beep - thank you, it's not going to be easy letting them go when the time comes.
@Fatcat723 - oh Rob, you better start fixing up your home cuz you're gonna be there for some time.
@Toro69 - keep strong my friend.
@carpe_diem99 - thank you for the compliments, yes it's great to have something to love and cherish.
@kunhuo42 - thanks Aaron, you know I still remember how proud he was when he purchased the house and made it our home.
@bleuzeus - thank you Matthew, I hope you have a good week too.
@yang1815 - nope, nothing at all.
@ZSA_MD - I remember his last job, he got laid off and with his severance cheque - paid off the remaining mortgage. It was sort of a bittersweet moment.
@Chatamanda - I hope so too! Although he's not as optimistic as I am.
@CareyGLY - hahaha - no. I don't think they sell them in Canada yet.
geez...every time I come over here I get all choked up. Tears are steaming down my cheeks reading this. hugs.
You are blessed. Nice post.
Just take care, my friend. Your dad is in my prayers. Take care, Matt.
.
Regards,
Fred
@macphoto - I have a bowl of chopped onions nearby when I write to wring every tear out of my readers.
@Texana - thank you, appreciate you dropping by.
no words could better display a true affection of a son to his father. let's hope all sons in the world would feel the same way to their fathers, or at least a fraction of the love and respect you have for your old man. if he were to read this, i doubt he won't get all misty. i think it is safe to say that you just made your farther a very proud man.
@rudyhou - thank you for those kind words Rudy, much appreciated. I always get this feeling I can do a lot more for him.
it's only natural you feel that way toward your farther. we all feel that way sometimes toward our parents. no matter what, it seems we can never do enough. as long as you put effort into it, it's all that matters.
yeah we are all getting old... >< lol
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