Saturday, May 28, 2016

An Open Letter to the New Owners of My Childhood Home


Dear sir and madam,

I know you'll probably never read my blog but I'm publishing this open letter because I want you and the world (at least the internet world) to know how much my house means to me.

First of all, I'd like to thank you for buying my house. I know it made my parents happy because they are now able to officially retire to Florida. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in Florida? Oh wait, that would be me.

I moved to Ohio in 2010 for college. I haven't been back at that house for more than a week or two at a time. I'm not horribly sad that my family doesn't own it anymore. It was nice while it lasted. I just wanted to share with you a couple of things that I will always remember about that house:

I remember when we built that house. I was 9 years old and we were moving from the other side of town. I remember laying down on the living room floor before there was any furniture. We would throw our stuffed animals into the air because the vaulted ceilings were something we didn't have before.

I remember how my room (the one above the garage) was always the hottest in the summer and the coldest in the winter. I advise you to invest in a space heater and a fan. I remember picking out the colors for my room. Bright blue and green. Because every girl loves those colors. I put glow-in-the-dark stars on the slanted wall above my head. And I kept them there forever. But you'll never know that because my mom painted over everything recently.

I remember crying to my mom in that room because I just found out that Leslie dies in Bridge to Terabithia. I also remember how she would always come cuddle in my bed because it was the comfiest mattress.

I remember when Maxine moved on to doggy heaven. I was in the basement with her and had no idea what was going on. That was one of the few times I've ever seen my dad cry. I remember when we brought Cleo home for the first time. I also remember all the times that she peed because she was so excited.


I remember when I covered the walls of my room with magazine covers. I wanted to be a model and that is how young girls get inspiration. More recently, I remember reminiscing over these walls as I removed the magazine covers as a 22-year old because my parents told me they wanted to move.

I remember my high school graduation party in that house. So many people that I may never see again. For some reason, I had an obsession with the back patio. My boyfriend (at the time) rapped for me at my party. It was hilarious.

I remember leaving that house for college. I didn't come back as often as I would have liked, but Ohio is really far away. Every time I did come home, my room was just how I left it (and maybe a little cleaner.) Sometimes furniture was moved around between my room and my sisters' rooms, but it's ok. It was still my room every time I came home.

I hope you let your kids go sledding down the driveway. I hope that they play in the back yard. I hope you are friendly to the neighbors. I hope that you cook dinner at home often. I hope that you turn on the fireplace in the winter. I hope that you decorate the house every season. I hope that you never slam doors. I hope that your family grows up in this house.

But most of all, I hope you love this house like I do.

Have you ever moved? How did you feel? I'd love to hear your story in the comments.

3 comments :

  1. It's amazing that you have such good memories of your old home.

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  2. I just ADORE this post. I feel that way about our current home and we haven't sold it yet but will one day. This is the home we came home to as husband and wife for the first time, this is the home we brought our son home from the hospital to. As much as this little house (really, it's so tiny) drives me bonkers, I love it and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.

    PS - I'm from Ohio :) I'm located right outside Dayton.

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  3. My parents still live in the home I grew up in, but I definitely know what it's like to leave the home your grew up in. It's a hard transition, but I love that you captured a lot of great memories!

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