It’s Friday the Thirteenth, but I’m not superstitious. At the same time, I did check the origin of the superstition in Wikipedia and learned it can be a day of either good or bad luck. It’s just that the bad has received more attention.
For us, regardless of the date, it was a good day. We were out of our old house this afternoon and I handed the keys to the new owner’s Realtor® at 4 PM. Then, for one last time, I drove down the hill that leads to the road where we’d lived for almost ten years. Shadows gathered to watch and the sun waited for me. I pulled into the circular driveway to find Mike, our lawn care guy, loading a riding mower into his truck.
“Do you have a key?” I asked.
“No, I put it inside the house and locked the door at 3:59.”
“No matter,” I said. “I didn’t come to check on you; I can to see the house one last time.”
Mike likes to talk; and I really didn’t want to chat. So I wandered off around the back and noticed there wasn’t a single leaf left on the deck. The windows sparkled, and the roses were secured with Styrofoam cones for the winter. The hydrangeas were ringed with chicken wire to keep hungry rabbits at bay. And the garage was swept clean. Mike had done his best to the end, and I’m hoping the new owner keeps him on.
I walked out to the dock and stared at the river. It wasn’t really the last time, since Earl and I still own the lot next door to the house and we can came and go whenever we please. As memories flooded my eyes, I was struck that we’d come full circle. Years ago Earl bought this lot. Then we bought the house. And now, we’re back to the lot.
In the interim, Earl and I became the family’s oldest generation as we buried parents and saw great-grandchildren come into the world. We became more conscious of the work involved in a big house. And we became increasingly aware of our own mortality. Things like dreading winter, going to bed earlier, and concern over falling crept into the back of our minds. It was time to go.
As I returned to my car, Mike was still tinkering.
“You gonna miss this place?”
I nodded.
“Yeah, I would to,” he said.
I’m not sure, but I think I saw Mike’s lower jaw quiver as he turned toward his truck. I got into my car and headed out.
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