Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The House That Built Me

In the middle of the afternoon yesterday there was a knock on my door, and upon opening it, I recognized the young girl to be one of the children who used to live in this house. She is the youngest of 5 and had lived in this house since birth and was 10 when we took ownership of it. I remember seeing her a lot with her father, who had been a custom home builder and had built this home for his family. He was building a bigger. better home for his family and that was why he sold this one. Tragically, he died suddenly only a month after we moved in. Fast forward 5 years and a beautiful 15 year old and her guy friend are on my porch. She shyly told me she used to live here..and before she said another word I said "Would you like to come in and look around?" Her face lit up and she and her friend stepped into her former home. "Oh! I love your decor and your antiques!" she said, and I proceeded to give her a tour..apologizing for the disarray it was in since I've been sick since Christmas. But I knew she didn't care...she just wanted to see 'her home'. She started telling her friend stories about the house..experiences she'd had there...so many memories...
She told me that her father had remarked about us. That we were really nice folk and he was glad we got the house. I can only imagine, a house that you have built would take on even more meaning to who you would want to own it.
A house is more than where one dwells, it's an environment that shapes you..makes you who you are. It's where memories are made.
After the tour, she thanked me profusely...said I was really nice.A big compliment coming from a 15 year old! I gave her my phone number and I told her I understood the need of visiting your childhood home and she and her siblings were welcome to come by whenever they had the need. I know that feeling oh so well.
I kept thinking about the lyrics to this song by Miranda Lambert :

THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME



TOM DOUGLAS / ALLEN SHAMBLIN

I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these hand prints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for you
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

11 comments:

  1. what a beautiful...beautiful post! You are an angel on earth now to that girl. don't doubt it!

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  2. This is so touching. I went back to my childhood home several years ago and I still remember that feeling. Gotta go now and get a kleenex....

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  3. I'm so glad (but not at all surprised) that you offered to let that sweet young girl into your beautiful home. I'm sure it thrilled her. Brings to mind my precious Daddy getting to re-visit the first home he and my mother had built together and that I lived in til I was married. He was already well along into his illness from cancer and drove by one day and saw the young owner out doing yardwork. He stopped, they chatted, and he was offered the chance to go inside and have one last look. That young man's kindness to my daddy meant the world to him, and to me. Homes are such a part of our lifetime memories!

    Hope you are feeling better now!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  4. Oh my goodness - what a post! I have a lump in my throat. There is nothing like our childhood home and how very special to be able to enter it once again. I must try that the next time I am back to my hometown. How wonderful that you gave that sweet girl some beautiful memories. The whole story with her dad is so sad but touching. You are a very special person and I thank you for writing this and giving me warm fuzzy feelings!!

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  5. You made me cry....what a great post. I totally understand how she felt. We use to drive by my grandparents house, get out and take our pic there over the years and one time the lady did give us a tour..it meant so much. I understand that feeling so much I bought the place 1515 which I mention on my blog.

    But my heart will always be in my house I grew up in...no one had ever lived there since we bought it in 1960..I knew no other home. Since my mom died I still visualize ever room, my closet, the place where we measured out height etc,

    well...the post was wonderful THANK YOU

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  6. That's one of those "God things"...they make your heart swell up inside your chest!!

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  7. What a precious post Myrna.....warmed my heart.....everything you said and the song said were perfect......I hope they come again because I have a feeling there is more to be gleaned from knowing you and seeing their/your home! God might be up to something!

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  8. We will have to leave our house when we retire and the kids have left home. I'm dreading that day, but I'm not sure I could ever come back to see someone else living in my home.
    How nice of you to show her around. Memories are so powerful. xx

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  9. O My! I am in tears! You see, my Dad built the 2 homes that I lived in as a child. The second one was built when I was 4 years old and it is the home that I grew up in and the home that my Dad died in. My mom sold the home 3 months later. She could not live there without him. Now my Hubby, who is a letter carrier, delivers mail to the nice people who bought my childhood home. They have taken wonderful care of it, remodeled it , put an addition on it and also raised two daughters there ( just like my parents did). I am so very glad that my Dad's pride and joy became someone else's pride and joy and I know both of my parents are content with that up in heaven.
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  10. Such a sweet post. I loved the words to that song. Never heard of it before...brought tears to my eyes.
    As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord too!
    Hugs,
    LaDonna

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  11. That's a really beautiful story. It's funny, because I did the same thing to the couple who bought childhood home. They were are sweet and gracious as you were.
    I hope your New Year is off to great start!
    xo,
    Karen

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