Making The Most of Spring

What a beautiful weekend.  And with everything we're dealing with these days... that's saying something.  The weather is cool and crisp.  The trees are popping.  The spring flowers are in bloom.  And somehow, we are able to see the beauty in life.

We spent some time in Maine last week during my brief, but much needed April break.  It was a different trip, because Todd and I have never opened up the cottage before.  Everything went great, and by 1:00 we were sitting on the dock eating lunch, ready for another great season in Maine.  It's so quiet up there right now.  Absolutely no one is around - except the year-round people, but they are few and far between.  It's so incredibly peaceful.  We were greeted almost immediately by two loons right in the cove - singing away, welcoming us.  It was amazing.

I spent a lot of time this weekend working in the garden.  It's therapeutic, for sure - pulling weeds, taking something ugly and making it beautiful.  In fact, I'm finding myself cleaning a lot lately, which sadly is not like me.  Somehow, I didn't get the immaculate gene from Mom and Dad.  Typically I walk down the hallway and say, "Oh look, a tumbleweed of dog hair... I'll get it later."  But as of late, I'm scrubbing things, and plotting to reorganize every room in the house.  And thinking all the while, if only everything in life was this simple - put in some hard work, get a little dirty, and voila - problem solved.  I'm beginning to realize, however, that not everything in life is this simple...

Today, Nicholas and I spent the afternoon at the park among the daffodils with Nana.  What a beautiful day, and as my mom mentioned more than once, we can't remember a time that the daffodils were more spectacular.  Nicholas insisted on playing a rousing game of hide-and-seek among the daffodils - which was both ridiculous and touching at the same time.  Definitely a special afternoon for the three of us.  And yes - we're looking forward to many many more afternoons just like it for years to come.

Goodbye Old House

I stole that quote my my Nanny.  It was the last thing she said as she walked out of her house in Rocky Hill years ago.  I couldn't help but say it tonight as I walked out of our house on Sunnybrook Hill for the last time.  Although, I must admit, my grandmother was obviously a much stronger woman than I am, because I don't remember her being in a puddle of tears when she said it.

The circumstances are different here.  Mom and Dad are not leaving their house because they can't take care of it.  They didn't have to leave, they wanted to.  They have moved to a beautiful new home, and are on to new adventures in life.  But still... saying goodbye is always something that I've struggled with, and this one could just take the cake as the toughest.  Christ, I cried when I sold my last car! 

I went tonight to take one last walk through the house, and was already emotional as I pulled in the driveway.  It's amazing how each room holds different memories, and how flashes of my life were flying all over the place as I walked through.  It was almost hard to concentrate.  The fish tank in the den, the Christmas tree in front of the window in the living room, the broken grout in the tile by the fireplace that I used to take apart and put back together like a puzzle (never should've fixed that mom & dad...), the dart board in Mary's room, hiding in the crawlspace in Dad's closet (Oh... by the way Mom and Dad, not the best place to hide the Christmas presents... maybe you didn't know I liked to go in there!), the giant snowmen in the front yard, and the countless pool parties in the back.  And in the dining room, I immediately pictured my Poppy sitting at the head of the table telling us the stories about his childhood after dinner.

A lot of people would say, "It's just a house, Kristin.  It's bricks and plaster and nails and wood."  I understand this, but to me, it's much more than that.  My parents were able to create a warm and loving home for my sister and I within those walls.  Ours was that house where everybody wanted to be.  Every weekend growing up, the house was buzzing with friends, family, or countless high school kids that came to see my dad, or attend a Key Club meeting.  It wasn't a house, it was a home.

I know that the new owners will love living in that house.  It's a wonderful place to grow up, and the thought of a young couple moving in and starting a family is pretty cool.  The last thing I saw as I was walking to the car was a bunch of crocuses sprouting in the garden.  I thought, how poetic - new life.  I wish the new owners well.  And tonight I can smile because I know that my family will continue to create wonderful new memories in our new family home.