If I changed a single step along my path, I wouldn’t be in this house tonight. My house that used to be our house that used to be their house.
My high school sweetheart bought this house in 1978 and moved into it with his wife. Visiting from Dallas, I attended their housewarming party. I lived in a teeny one-bedroom apartment, but they were only 22 and the proud owners of a three bedroom, two bath house in our hometown. Maybe if he and I hadn’t broken up I’d be choosing the wallpaper to go with the coppertone kitchen appliances and shag carpeting. But I’d chosen to follow my career in the city instead.
By the time I returned to Florida two decades later, I’ve had three houses, two husbands and two kids. They lived in the same house. But nobody was happy. Not yet.
A couple of messy divorces later, we two were happily together at last. He wanted me to move in with him. As much as I loved him, I couldn’t. The place was rundown, dirty and gross. The original orange and brown shag carpet was still on the floors. So we bought paint and laminate flooring and started the transformation before I moved in. I junked the coppertone stove. We were married soon after.
This house became a cozy home for the two of us, place for graduation parties, bridal showers, holiday dinners and games nights. I came to love this old house as dear old friend.
Since he passed away this has been my house. Still cozy but a lot of upkeep. Could I have ever guessed that I would living here alone someday—after them, after us?
— Suztek
My high school sweetheart bought this house in 1978 and moved into it with his wife. Visiting from Dallas, I attended their housewarming party. I lived in a teeny one-bedroom apartment, but they were only 22 and the proud owners of a three bedroom, two bath house in our hometown. Maybe if he and I hadn’t broken up I’d be choosing the wallpaper to go with the coppertone kitchen appliances and shag carpeting. But I’d chosen to follow my career in the city instead.
By the time I returned to Florida two decades later, I’ve had three houses, two husbands and two kids. They lived in the same house. But nobody was happy. Not yet.
A couple of messy divorces later, we two were happily together at last. He wanted me to move in with him. As much as I loved him, I couldn’t. The place was rundown, dirty and gross. The original orange and brown shag carpet was still on the floors. So we bought paint and laminate flooring and started the transformation before I moved in. I junked the coppertone stove. We were married soon after.
This house became a cozy home for the two of us, place for graduation parties, bridal showers, holiday dinners and games nights. I came to love this old house as dear old friend.
Since he passed away this has been my house. Still cozy but a lot of upkeep. Could I have ever guessed that I would living here alone someday—after them, after us?
— Suztek
I now want to see a picture of this house, plus the floor plan, etc. What a PATH! Thanks for describing what sounds make-believe but is actual REALITY! (Macoff)
ReplyDeleteMy skin is crawling imaging that yucky shag carpeting. Bravo for replacing it with laminate!
ReplyDeleteI like the circular motion of this story - you in the house, you and your relationship with your high school sweeheart - and then your standing still (so to speak) and reflecting.
ReplyDelete