The small break was nice, and I appreciated the food I would not have eaten at these restaurants otherwise. I was on a pretty strict budget, seeing as my husband left no Will. This is a story for another day. I will, however, say it was the fault of both of us. Despite the break and the fact that I had finished the bedroom, I was head-deep in boxes. It reminded me of when Mitch and I first moved into our new home on the golf course there in Harlingen. You know that big house with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a washroom, a small study, a beautiful kitchen, not one dining room but two. Guess what? We even had a den and a FORMAL living area. Out the back door was a two-door garage, and even a place to put your golf cart, if you had one. Remember, at this time, I only had one son at home. The girls were grown and gone. Did we need this place? NO! Did we want this place? You bet!
My point to all that is to say I cried when I saw all these boxes then, and I’m crying again at all these boxes now. The difference this time is that I was doing it alone. Also, there weren’t quite as many, but boy, did it feel like it. It was hard before I left our old home in Harlingen to decide what to take and what to sell or give away. Don’t ask me why, but once the furniture was in place, I started putting the pictures and paintings on the wall as the first thing to do. Now remember, I’m going from 3,500 to 1,500 square feet. Believe me, I’m a master of filling up any kind of space there is. I love paintings, and did I mention I love old chairs, tables of all sizes, tea carts, and the list goes on and on. I used to own a Tea Room that was also an antique mall. I call all of this eye candy. Boy, do I have lots of eye candy.
So at this point, you are probably wondering, did you ever get it done? The answer is yes! It only took me a week. Now I’m not bragging, because it did almost kill me, but I was determined as ever to get my space and privacy back after living with my daughter for a while. You know, start this new chapter in my life. It did feel like home once I put the finishing touches on it. Pink, I used a lot of pink. You know, pillows, flowers, rugs, a pink fan, a pink coffee maker, and a pink fainting couch that I have always wanted. I love the stone fireplace, the brick flooring in the kitchen, the hardwood floors, the newly done bathrooms, but especially the really, really big windows and a door in my bedroom taking me out to a balcony.
My favorite time was at night. I would have the television on and no other lights. The view looking out at the night lights of the stars was absolutely HEAVENLY! It was only a second-story condo, but it felt higher somehow, closer somehow. I would sit right at that window and talk to God, but also to my husband, Mitch. I would ask him about this new place that I was now living in. I would tell him how much he would enjoy being amongst the trees and about all the deer. I would tell him that the dogs, Wiley and only Rosco, left. We had three who really love their walk and the fact that there are no cars. It was a perfect place for our walks.
Did I say OUR, meaning him and me? I meant me and the boys, the dogs. I can’t remember if I was sad or if I was happy as a tear rolled down my cheek, but this was now my “HOME.”
