So it finally happened, after what I think a literally years-long process...Jim sold 105 Pepperidge Place. He will be living in Daytona Beach until sometime next summer when his Reston condo renter is out, then he'll go back and forth throughout the year.
Mom and Jim met when we lived at 602 South Concord Court and Jim lived across the street. They married in June 1981 and we moved to Pepperidge Place, which was a two or three year old house at the time. Gravel driveway, unfinished basement (that it STILL has). We had many good family times in that house. We had a lot of loud music in that house -- some from behind closed bedroom doors (Billy Squier and Tom Petty for Jennifer, Triumph and Def Leppard for me), some from downstairs (Travis Tritt, Patty Loveless for Mom). One time, my friend Tracey Bowers and I walked way down Crestview Drive to the 7-11 (it was a busy road - so dumb!) to use her fake ID to buy a single 4-pack of Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers, walk all the way back to my house, drink them in secret and stash the bottles in my closet until I could get rid of them. We had our dog Buffy, then we had Corky. We always knew that Mom 'hid' the Christmas presents in her closet, and I know I peeked more than once. Somehow Jennifer had to mow the grass as a teenager, but I never had to (what's up with that?). Jennifer went off to college, I made a brief stop at college myself, then an ill-advised marriage. Jennifer got married too, and we both got divorces (at different times) and were welcomed back home again with open arms - my dog C.J. too. We watched our Mom become the amazing grandmother we always knew she would be, and Jim grow into his grandfather role too. Aly logged a ton of time there in the first several years of her life, and had so many special moments with Mom during sleepovers. She had to nearly be dragged out when it was time to go. We had many cookie days where we made way too many treats. It was a warm, comfortable home, and Mom loved it.
For me, and I know for Wanda too, the house became a sad reminder of my Mom after she died there. I think it was what she wanted, to live her last days in her own home (though honestly, we unfortunately never had those important conversations), but it was so hard for everyone. Because of that, letting go of the house was maybe a little bit of a relief, and less sad than it otherwise would have been.
Amy was only 5 when Mom died, and Mom had really been 'gone' for the last six months of her life. But still, saying goodbye to the house made Amy a bit sad. She remembers the few sleepovers they had with Mom, but mostly she remembered that whenever we left from a visit, Mom always stood outside to wave goodbye, not going back into the house until we were out of sight. I'm so glad that Amy has that memory.
We got together one last time to raise a glass to our home after 27 years. Here's to bigger and better things for Jim.
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