My old house in WI is for sale again. I think this is by the people who bought it from us four years ago.
Friends told us, then we found it listed on Zillow. The advantage there is that we could see the MLS pictures.
Wow. That was hard. Everything was different.
New paint colors. I mean, every wall in that five bedroom house had been repainted. The vaulted living room wall. The cozy family room. The tall kitchen. Every bedroom.
New flooring. Beautiful wood kitchen cabinets – painted! A new walk-in closet, though I can’t quite figure out which room that is.
A workout room in the old hobby room. A study where my son’s bedroom used to be.
Each bedroom reconfigured. Strange large paintings on the walls. New bathroom fixtures and shower curtains.
Everything that could be changed… was.
They really made it their own. And erased us in the process.
I was surprised by how sad I felt.
Why would I have that emotional response? I mean, it wasn’t my house anymore. We sold it to another family. And they made it their own.
Maybe it just felt like the end of something. Not that we can ever go back in time, nor should we. Life moves forward.
But change is hard. And this was hard evidence of change.
The evergreens in the backyard had been replaced. There was a trampoline near the gardens.
It had all been redone.
Have I been redone? Am I different than I was four years ago? Yes. “Time marches on.”
And so part of me still grieves the move from WI, all these years later. It was the end of an era, of parenting kids at home. The start of our empty nest. Life with just the two of us now. First in FL, now in VA. What would make me think that WI would stay the same? We didn’t.
Sunny with a Chance of Clouds 
Peggy, I went to see my grandparent’s home when it was for sale once- the garish colors of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ceiling fans greeted me in what had once been my peaceful reading retreat- no more amber chandelier – no more barrister bookcases- just racing ceiling fans. I couldn’t even go past that to any other room. The historic notch and groove barn was replaced by a swimming pool and instead of a beautiful garden there were large prefab sheds holding ATVs of various sizes. And at least three extra houses dotted the pasture, obscuring all of our once well worn pathways into all the adventure worthy nooks and crannies that land could hide.
Time does change things. My heart feels with you.
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“Time does change things” – you are so right!
Those sound like shocking changes. Like me, I hope you can keep the memories over the changes!
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Thinking of you 🙂
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Hi Peggy,
That would be hard. Your house was so nice. Sending you hugs and prayers. Linda
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Thanks, Linda. Hope all is well with you!
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I have a bad habit of going back to old neighborhoods and revisiting the past. I actually think it’s good you saw all that, you need to “finish” (as much as we ever finish$ grieving that period in your life, xoxo
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You’re probably right!
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Oh, I’m sorry to hear this, Peg. I feel for you. I am sure you remember my “house” stories from just across town. It is so hard to witness changes someone else makes to a place that was loved. Our whole town is very different than it used to be. I hope knowing that helps somewhat. Would you like to see a photo of the houses rising in the corn fields behind mine? I am not making light of this – I just want to provide more hard evidence that the place itself has changed, not just your house. But, I know why this hits you so hard. I would feel the same.
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Your story of the changes at the local Festival made me sad. And I keep trying to picture the scar of new construction out where those beautiful fields were behind your home.
And the changes in your family, as your husband’s job changed and your boys keep getting older. You know how we freeze things in time in our minds?!
I know things change. I think that’s kind of my point. But seeing those changes can be tough.
I saw a picture of the HHS Pep Band the other day, and was struck with nostalgia.
Maybe that’s what it is – nostalgia.
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Yes. I know you know. I am sorry if I didn’t sound like I thought you knew. It is sad and I agree, we do freeze things in our minds. I was up at 2am (probably around the time you wrote this) trying to figure out a schedule for myself. Years spend revolving around others is making me question many things. I don’t know where we will be after Ben graduates from HS. I told JIm I’d like to stay in this area because it has become home. But, the other day he told me he talked to a friend about some lots in a subdivision further out, I was like – Hmmmm – I’m not sure about that anymore. I think although we know things change, we’d like to see them stay where/when we were happy – when life was predictable (at least that’s important for me) and I had more control over how things were carrying out. But, I guess it is all part of letting go. The change is easy to ignore until it slaps you in the face (like when you saw the actual photos of your home). Hugs to you Peg. I am sorry you were told about the house. It really shouldn’t matter, but I know it does. I promise I will try and email soon. I’m rambling. Sorry.
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Hard to figure out a schedule – and where to put your time.
Harder to figure out a plan for the future. You have lots of memories in that house! But moving to a place further out sounds nice. Less development!
On another note – the other day I actually picked out my clothes based on the navy earrings I wanted to wear!😉 I love them!
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