November 8, 2010
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My old house - thank you
I think my old house (my dad's house) has a spirit. l don't mean it's haunted. But I can sense something. Everytime I visit my dad's place, I look at all the things that are wrong with the house. It was built in the 50's. This is a handyman's dream. It's small compared to some of the new houses in the neighbourhood. I mentally keep a log of things that need to be fixed from wiring, kitchen cabinets, insulation, plaster falling down, paint peeling etc... It's depressing to think about what needs to be done.
This house already knows I've been looking at it with a very critical eye for quite some time. But after my first night here in a long time, I sense something else. It's telling me about the years of faithful service, a yeoman's job performed with minimal budget for maintenance. Yes there have been leaks here and there, a basement flooding and some other things. But we never had a lot of money for major renovations. This old house has always been a rock for us. The old kitchen cabinets, the fading wallpaper, the tiny bathroom - they will never help sell this house. Buyers will get so turned off by so many things. But they won't see or understand that it has been our family's faithful companion for so long. There are so many memories and emotions that have seeped into the foundations of this house.
Despite my critical views, this house has already welcomed me back. I'm starting to regret some of the things I've felt about this house. With stoic silence and unflinching loyalty, this house is giving me a silent lesson in gratitude.
Comments (14)
Matt, i have tears in my eyes. This is an amazing post, right from your heart.
@ZSA_MD - gosh... thank you. I just started to write and this came out. I'm glad you liked it.
Nice.
Perhaps just keeping it clean and organized will be appreciated.
i get that same feeling at my old house. It wasnt haunted, but I appreciated the place.
Home is so much more than a structure. It is a part of our hearts. When we are young, we do not realize what it means to us. I have been in my home almost 24 years. There are marks along the kitchen doorway measuring heights, flowers on the wall that I hand painted. Yes, there is a spirit (not a haunting) in our home. It is the spirit of love. Great post!
I heard spirits are usually good things. What's next for the old house? Renovation? Or did you plan to keep everything there the same :]
That's cos that house is HOME.
Have you got someone to pray for the house inside out?
"With stoic silence and unflinching loyalty, this house is giving me a silent lesson in gratitude." - awesome! Sadly against our wishes our family home was sold... But we've been living in our current house now for a while, more memories.
@yang1815 - he has some hoarding traits (can't bear to throw stuff out). So it's always cluttered especially the basement. I'll have to give it a good vacuum this weekend I think.
@sonychak - oh yeah, I remember the vblog you did once of your place.
@New_Egyptian - you're absolutely right. Boy, it's gonna be tough if you have to move. You'll have to remove the doorway and bring it with you to your new house.
@Devilzgaysianboi - I don't think we'll do any renovation. It's hard for him to stay somewhere else while it's being renovated and we don't have the funds for it either. I think we'll try to do some of the minor repairs like caulking.
@oxyGENE_08 - yeppers!
@Mal_P - not really. I think it was blessed once by a priest when we moved in.
@unfathomed_caves - thank you, it's sad that a house needs to be sold against one's wishes. But sometimes we can't control all the circumstances. Thanks for dropping by.
@ElusiveWords - So nice of you.
I'm the opposite of hoarder. I throw things away.
You should have this post emblazoned on a brass plaque and posted next to the front door of the house, Matt.
isn't it amazing how a home can be filled with memories and have such a personality of its own? i love how you've depicted your home here.
Matt, I've been on vacation for a bit, but I'm catching up.
I took part in the tearing down of my childhood home.
My family, brothers and sisters alike took it down by hand.
It was an emotional time but i felt a lot of the same things that you have
shared here. Your posts tend to make me reflect as well.
Thank you for that.
*~matthew~*
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