Well, it’s been a minute, folks. 5 months and 24 days, to be exact. In my defense, it’s been busy in my world. 2020 changed her dress and rolled right over to 2021 without missing a beat. Gotta love her attitude.
Rewind to January when we were approached by our son inquiring about purchasing our house. He was tied into a lease until July, so the plan was to sell and use the extra time to look for our new digs. I do believe I heard God laughing out loud.
We looked, we liked, we offered, we were outbid. We looked, we wanted, we over-offered, we were outbid. Finally, we looked, we fell in love, we over-offered, including our souls, common sense, and dignity, while being outbid by cash-carrying soulless bidders with nothing to lose. We grabbed our white flag and waved it with our last shred of dignity.
In May, we packed up, donated, sold, and trashed 30 years of our life and jammed it into a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in the suburbs that I like to call “The Resort.” The jury is still out on how this actually happened.
Life here at “The Resort” has been an experience I will cherish for a very long time. The Summer weekends were spent poolside, the cooler weather at the fire pit, and now in the clubhouse, all with a group of people we now consider friends. All of those rejections lead us here to pause, play and enjoy life for the first time in a very long time. The universe knew exactly what it was doing.
Since settlement in October, I’ve been looking back at what I’m leaving behind and finding myself stuck in a time and place that no longer serves me, wrapped in familiarity, but preventing me from moving forward. Growth limbo.
Christmas hit me like a freight train of emotion. My son hosted dinner, and even though he remodeled to make the house his own, the flood of memories from holidays past met me at the door. Not the welcome wagon I was expecting.
As I stepped into the dining room, I felt the past rushing in like an out-of-body experience, and not in a good way. It was a reminder of a version of myself that I no longer recognize. The energy was clear as a bell, including a pounding headache.
On the way home, I realized that chapter had officially closed. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass!
It’s time to embrace the new without fear but anticipation. I sit here thinking about what is ahead as we forge into new territory in 2022. A new home, in a new city, in a new state. Go big or go home.
I’m gathering the good, the knowledge, the lessons, the love, and the memories from the past, packing them with care and heading forward to … Enjoy the Ride!
Life With The Top Down 
Lisa, welcome back. I feel your “lack of deja vu” as you walked in. It must have been unsettling. Best wishes in 2022 on your new endeavors. Don’t stay away so long. You are missed. Keith
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Thank you, Keith. Happy New Year to you and your family.
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God Top, I so love this. It’s so honest not to mention vivid. I see what you meant about that thought for the day, learning to live poor, was the finishing stroke.
That house. I know how you feel. I can’t look up at my old apartment when I go by making sure I’m across the street, eyes straight ahead because, my heart yearns for those 39 years in that little, in my case, broken down garret with the iffy boiler, me sleeping in my coat with a hot water bottle at my feet.
Closing that door ain’t for sissies, but here’s what I know…when the God of your understanding shuts one, he opens a window.
This is you at your very best. I’m so graciously humbled.
🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind words Hop ❤️
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Meant every one. 🙂
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Relocating? How exciting? Maybe…we downsized in February. The work to make it our own is still overwhelming. I’m glad your old home stayed in the family even if it takes you to a sad place.
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I hear you, Kate. My husband has been working on the house every weekend. The owners were still filling their cars an hour before settlement, so let’s say there was more to be done than we thought. We move in May when this lease is up, so we have some time.
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Maya has always hit the nail on the head with her words as far as I am concerned. Transition from the old to the new is always difficult but it seems your circumstances gave you the perfect solution to deal with it. I am looking forward to hearing from you in your new adventure.
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Maya is truly the Queen of Wisdom in my world. Thanks for stopping by.
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Good to see you back writing! I am so happy that we weren’t in the buy/sell crazies this past year. I imagine things will settle down but… Yikes! I’m looking forward to reading about your new place.
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Thank you Janis. The whole buy/sell craziness is not something I would ever want to do again.
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It’s exciting to change places; sad to leave memories in a home loaded with them. I left a precious ‘casita’ – looked like it came from a small fairy tale. I’m sure you’ll fall in love with this ‘new life’. Sounds great and who knows what’ll pop up! Enjoy!
‘
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Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Let the adventure begin!
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