Moves

For the first nineteen years of my life I lived at the same address.

When THGGM and I married, we moved into a fabulous upstairs apartment in what had been an old boarding house in the city of Grandville. It had such charm. You could still see the numbers on each door.

We lived in that upstairs apartment for five years. Oldest Son and Daughter were born during those years.

When climbing an outside staircase in inclement weather while carrying two small children became cumbersome, we moved down a flight of stairs into the main floor apartment.

Moving down one flight of stairs isn't all that easy. I remember the last day upstairs, I actually stood at the top of the steps and threw things down. Oldest Son thought that was hilarious and joined in.

The downstairs of the old boarding house also had it's own charm, and the hugest kitchen I have ever seen. Youngest Son was born during the two years that we lived there.

With three preschool children in tow (one with chicken pox) we moved from the 'boarding house' into the city. Although we were moving from an apartment into a house everything about this house was smaller. But, there was a sandbox and an apple tree in the backyard, which helped. All three children happily co-existed in one tiny bedroom.

This house had just been vacated by five Calvin Seminary students. It smelled like a dorm. But, it was solidly built and we had great neighbors. Except for THGGM's grandmother who lived next door and had nary a happy thought in her entire life.

Although no one thought it would happen, THGGM's grandmother died. We were offered the opportunity to buy the house she had called home for over 40 years.

It would have been nice to know that her belongs were remaining in the house before we attempted to move in with all of ours. The only thing I loved about that house was the very large walk-in attic.

When we moved in, THGGM's mother moved into the house we moved out of. We lived there for twelve years. Although it took us only twelve minutes to know that it was not a good idea.

Twelve years of living in the bad idea took it's toll.

One night, THGGM's mother told him that we should keep a close eye on our children. Brother-in-law had incurred a drug debt he could not repay and she had been paid a visit by those he owed. Since she had previously paid out her entire retirement fund to cover a different bad drug debt, she couldn't 'help him out'.

Quite quickly after that announcement we moved into the home we are in now. It's been nearly nine years. The children are now grown and living on their own.

Today at 4:30 we closed on our 'new' house. The former owners have thirty days to move out.

I think the strangest thing will be living in a house that none of our children have called 'home'.

Now.., back to packing...