Thursday, May 17, 2012

Nana's Sledding House



                                                         NANA'S SLEDDING HOUSE


                                                  I've always dreamed of a country home,
                                                  Where grandkids would come and sled;
                                                  And deer and turkeys were free to roam,
                                                  Such was the dream inside my head.

                                                  In a little town in Washington,
                                                  I found just the perfect place;
                                                  Now, grandkids come and have such fun,
                                                  On sleds, the wind upon their face.

                                                  They sled on cardboard and pizza pans,
                                                  Plastic sleds and cookie sheets;
                                                  With time for making snowmen,
                                                  Then back to racing, they compete.

                                                  Hot cocoa and a nice warm fire,
                                                  There's so much happy chatter;
                                                  And smiles of which I'll never tire,
                                                  All those things, that really matter.

                                                  It's "Nana's Sledding House", I'm told,
                                                  Full of Love, Good times and Laughter;
                                                  It warms my heart, as I grow old,
                                                  Sweet memories, forever after.

                                                                                                           Lynn 2008

Monday, May 14, 2012

A Little Thing Like A Couch






                                        A Little Thing Like A Couch

I haven't written since Nov. for good reason. My significant other, Russell, announced he was going to move back East to be closer to his family. Since I know how bad it feels to not be near family, I proceeded to set my priorities for my future. I knew I was going to have to sell my wonderful home. I am 63 and should not be living in the middle of nowhere by myself....well not totally alone; I have my cat, Marigold and Bertha....my 38 Special!

All through the winter and Spring, I've been doing necessary house repairs, the kind of things that never bothered me before. I began a campaign to eliminate all those prized possessions, I found I could live without and ran an unceasing flow of ads on Craig's list. I sold everything from an antique ironing board, Kawasaki ATV to an 8x8 shed(You Move)! My deadline to trim my sails, was May 1st.

Each day was carefully planned with packing, painting and selling. The end of April, I felt confident enough to list my almost vacant house with a realtor. This was the home I wished to be buried from. Having been a nomad my entire life, I had poured my heart and soul into this place.

I have not flinched or wavered in my resolve to sell and move in with my oldest son, who has never married. Before Russ left, I rented a Penske truck and we moved 95% of my remaining household items to my son's home, over 300 miles away in Port Orchard, WA. (I could never live in a big city).

Russ left for the East Coast May 2nd and although the furnishings here were sparse, I have managed to keep a positive outlook..... that is until yesterday. I told another one of my sons he could have my couch for his house, after Russ left. I had been sleeping on it for a month prior to Russ leaving as my bedroom furniture was already at my oldest son's.

There were 5 of us pushing and shoving this huge couch through my tiny kitchen, past the washer and dryer and using different angles to get the reluctant couch out the back door. There are even claw marks where it tried, to no avail to hold fast to the kitchen walls!

As I watched my couch drive off through the gate, the tears welled up in my eyes and flowed down my cheeks. I had managed to part with so much, my gingerbread collectibles that filled my kitchen had been packed with love and stored for my granddaughter, so much was gone. The curio, Russ gave me was sold, the riding lawnmower sold, walls vacant and lifeless...I had managed to hold up through all of it, except the stupid couch!

I know full well there will be another couch, other chairs and I still have all my stuff at my son's, but it was the letting go of a dream...my dream! It was the letting go of "Nana's Sledding Hill where grandkids came to have fun. The letting go of  times that were dear to me with the grandkids, the ceremonial tree burning after Christmas, feeding the deer and turkeys,  having banana splits in the gingerbread kitchen that was so cheerful, Thanksgivings in a house bulging at the seams with love, the farewell to having fireside marshmallow roasts on the deck. It was the letting go of the chipmunks, deer, turkeys and my quiet peace.

It was just a little couch, a stupid couch, clawing at the kitchen wall and wanting to stay!


                                                                                                        Lynn     5/14/2012