Sunday, March 25, 2007

Sticks and Stones and all that magic.....or in other words......


Out first house was imminent. We had saved for the down payment , trading Smirnoff for ABC brand vodka on Friday nights and buying ground chuck instead of sirloin. Clink! We cheered! “We’ll buy a house” “With two cats in the yard” “And a garden” “And a fireplace for marshmellow roasts” Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah! About three week-ends into house-shopping we were fighting. What I though was adorable, he thought was a money pit. What I thought was water front, he thought was built on a retention pond… God, the man had no imagination!

So, it was perfect! The week-end of our anniversary he went boating and Kimbies and I went house shopping. Actually, we just looked at one house. Through kaleidoscope eyes. We were in awe at the designer refrigerator in the matching pantry. The “French windows throughout” were so romantic….. 13 giant oak trees danced in the sky, their petticoats shading the double lot. “This is it!”

He pulled the boat in just after dusk. His neck and cheeks red with the twelve-pack flush and a little sun! He was smiling. Better be. It was our anniversary! “Baby Cakes, I’m sorry we’re so late….there was a barge on the river and……” “Just sign here, We found the house, the perfect house, you are so gonna love it!”

And he did.

Drinking on your anniversary does strange things to you. Anything to make her happy.

The designer fridge was a rust bucket covered in wood grain contact paper. It hummed and churned and belched for a few months and then croaked. The fireplace draped in the vintage mantel was our only source of heat that winter and the “French windows throughout”, that depended on 80 year old rope pullies to move up and down, our only source of air conditioning that summer. The floors dipped, the walls creaked, the oak trees tossed 10,000 wet leaves on the tar paper roof. We had parties there, babies there, love there.

And then one day, it was over.

My second house was perfect. The Stepford Wife thing. Only there was no Stepford Husband. Skinny and I and the babies made love beads there, and peace sign wreaths out of stolen grapevines. Jonah threw up on the perfect Berber carpet, we scorched the ceiling of the perfect screened room grilling hotdogs at midnight, we packed the perfect garage full of hot wheels and seashells, driftwood and trash from the neighbor’s garbage…. "surely, we can use this for something”, we used the perfect dishwasher for our bar, stacking martini and shot glasses on the top rack, Nana’s vintage stirrers and straws in the silverware bucket, and bottles on the bottom rack, we used the perfect disposal to shred love letters and rant letters to less than perfect lovers…We hated it…..

We fertilized the yard and mowed it twice a week. Planted bulbs in the spring time. From the road, we were happy campers……..

My third house was an accident. Waiting to happen. Waiting a zillion years for just the right person, just the right vibes, just the right karma. Waiting for me.

Sometimes, when you least expect it, in places you’ve never looked before…..you find that you’ve wandered aimlessly forever…

and simply fall into the arms you’ve known all along…..

Home……



Tree fort courtesy of unknown Magpie Fairies.....
Discovered on the perfect Sunday.....

17 comments:

Me said...

Aw, that was beautiful and touching. Considering how expensive it is to live here in Sydney I doubt I will shopping for a house in this life-time.
Wish you had pictures of the homes you speak about.

Anonymous said...

Orhan~ look at previous post on 'critiques & other chatter' & I beleive you will catch a glimpse of her kitchen, living room, hallway & bedroom door. Lol, those pics should reveal why this house is a 'home.' :)

Singleton~There is no place like home and your home is just that....YOUR home! ILY

M@ said...

That was a nice story. You remind me so much of Skinny.

Bardouble29 said...

Awww, that was so sweet, I love home...

singleton said...

Silly Orhan...Don't you ever doubt it! Home is not always expensive real estate, sometimes it's a place you happen onto for just a moment and know tyour heart has lived there forever, and have to visit again.....sometimes it's a face with a soul so old and a smile so new....sometimes it's just a moment...when it all comes together.....

skinny....and we both live in the houses that Jack and soul built! I know you know....

Matt....thank you....that's the ultimate compliment because she's the bomb! My precious little sib...No words big enough!

Bardouble...God, don't we all? Nothin' better than being home, sweet home.....

DirkStar said...

From hippie to another, greetings and salutations.

Very fine blog you have here!

mindy said...

this post makes me want to move.. i've been looking for our 2nd home and i am having trouble deciding if i want to stay here in this town, or move to a bigger town.. now, this post also makes me want to slow down and not be so rushed. thanks!

Baron Ectar said...

Hippie!
I so love your stories - they plant my feet on the ground in so many ways.

JustRun said...

How perfect to find that home. I've always believed home is where you make it, but I know the right place always helps.

vicci said...

What a beautiful post....Houses...just finished painting this one...we had a paint party! This is where I grew up...spent my teenage years...my mama died here...my papa is still here..in the same bedroom...I turned my old room (from when I was in my teens) into my studio...An and I sleep in my (once was) brother's room...my little sisters's big room..is used for whatever...storage...yes...houses tell so many stories!!! I loved yours Sweets...
PS...them magpie fairies sure know how to build a fort! :-)

Anonymous said...

Our house, is a very very very fine house. with two cats in the yard...Baby you know the rest. I am going to miss our house so bad. You are truly the love of my life, my soulmate. Wherever I may be, my heart and soul will always be with you. I have never fit so well. I will never forget our story. I will feel you for the rest of my life. ILYSVMB

Fuzzylogic said...

I'm still looking for my "perfect" house.I know it will be sometime before I finally find it but I guess it will be worth the wait.I'm glad you found yours :)

singleton said...

dirk star...ty, peaceful salutations

mindy...contemplating change is such a big thing to tackle, but as long as where you end up is in welcome arms, you're there baby!

baron...oh you are already grounded, in so many ways, and reading your words of late, planting your feet more firmly every day in rich rich thoughtful soil...

justrun....keep believing, we're on the same track, baby!

vicci...hugs! and yeah, you gotta love those magpie fairies! I know you feel it every day, in every room...p&l

Sweet Anon...Three cats! May your journey be blessed with peace and happiness and all you dream of. Here's to the promise of the yellow butterfly...
SILWY

fuzzy...once found, everything was worth the wait, it's just the getting there that drags on forever! Wishing you a home filled with windows to see the world and doors wide open to whisk you in!

skinnylittleblonde said...

Hey Singleton...is your computer back up?! or are you 'borrowing' someone's internet?

gawd...ily

singleton said...

magpie fairy! ily!

skinnylittleblonde said...

Enjoy the connection sister!
;)

singleton said...

ILYSVVM! 7 days!