The Open House

Kitchen

My goal was to have the house clean and presentable for the Open House yesterday, and I have to say…I was so proud of the way it looked when the auction agent (Wayne) got there. They arrived about 3:15 and needed to get back up on the hill to show the property lines to the one who hadn’t been there yet. Wayne took a quick look around the house and he was so pleased. The first time he saw it was when Mr. FixIt and I were at the beach so nothing had been done. It was in quite a state of disarray.

Kitchen – My uncle made this cabinets after they rolled the house down onto the new basement

None of us have ever seen it so empty, but it didn’t seem forlorn or depressing to me. It seem light and airy…like it could breathe in the sunshine. It was a beautiful, cool day. Members of the family or the sellers aren’t supposed to attend an open house. I didn’t realize that’s for our own protection against any liability. They are licensed and insured and that is their business. I really liked Wayne. He was genuine and personable. After he glanced at the house, he said, “I have a gift for you. You’ve worked so hard, you deserve a present!” He went out to his truck and brought me a wonderful Yeti travel mug! That was very kind of him.

The Dining Room

I had another truckload packed by the time they arrived, so all I had to do was put my overnight bags in and head home. I sent my cousin Katie the pictures of the house when it was ready and asked her to show my uncle today when they go help him mow. The house was always a shrine of sorts. It seemed like once we lost our Uncle Sonny in the plane crash, the house never changed much after that. Other than replacing worn out furnishings, it always looked the same year after year. The pictures were all hung in the same spots, the curtains were replaced by identical curtains. It was eerily comforting because you always knew you were home when you walking in the door. It still smells like old wood and dust and lemon oil.

Living Room

I haven’t heard if anyone showed up to the Open House. I hope so. I hope lots of people want it and they just fight over it and cause a bidding war. Not necessarily because it will bring in more money, but because it would show someone loved it enough to fight for it. I talked to my uncle last night to let him know the place looked nice for them and he said, “It’s kinda depressing, isn’t it?” I told him about talking to Grandma at the cemetery the other day and what she “told” me. I could hear his voice quiver. I said, “I know it’s hard because it’s HOME and it’s always been there. But, you know…that land saved a whole lot of people, myself included.” I thanked him tremendously for letting me live there and heal after losing Mr. Virgo. It was honestly like a medicine I took straight into my soul.

Grandma & PopPop’s Bedroom where I sleep. You had to walk through their room to get to the bathroom. Grandma always reached her hand out to touch mine when my mom walked me through.

So, the days of time at the farm are winding down. I’ll go back over one last stretch…maybe Friday. My last night there will be Monday because the auction ends on Tuesday at 7:00. I don’t want to sleep there after that…it won’t seem right. Oh…the stories we have! I’m looking forward to going over to see my uncle and sit with him and ask all the questions I’ve never asked. I want to know everything. For instance…I had no idea the back property line went clear over the back of the hill and across the creek and up the other side a little ways. No idea! All these years I thought it ended at the road on the other side of the old home place.

The Boys’ Room

Today? I HAVE to finish the taxes! Mr. FixIt is working away on the entryways in preparations for the carpet installation tomorrow. He has one finished. One to go. It’s always something, isn’t it?