The house that built me

There is this song that I have listening to for the past couple of days. It is by Miranda Lambert. The name of it is, The house that built me. Here are the words: (yes Mark, I did steal this song from Lime wire. I also got the lyrics from the Internet and did not pay for those either.) I know they say you can't go home again. I just had to come back one last time. Ma'am, I know you don't know me from Adam. But these hand prints on the front steps are mine. Up those stairs in that little back bedroom is where I did my homework and I learned to play the guitar. And I bet you didn't know under that live oak, my favorite dog is burned in the yard. I thought if I could touch this place or feel it, this brokenness inside me might start healing. Out here it's like I'm someone else, I thought that maybe I could find myself. If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave, won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me. Mama cut out pictures of houses for years, from "Better Homes and Garden" magazine. Plans were drawn and concrete poured. And nail by nail and board by board, Daddy gave life to mama's dream. I thought if I could touch this place or feel it, this brokenness inside me might start healing. Out here it's like I'm someone else. I thought that maybe I could find myself. If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave. Won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me. You leave home, you move on, and you do the best you can. I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am. I thought if I could touch this place or feel it. This brokenness inside me might start healing. Out here it's like I'm someone else. I thought that maybe I could find myself. If I could walk around, I swear I'll leave, won't take nothing but a memory. From the house that built me.



So here are some of the memories that I brought with me and thought I would share them with you. The first picture I am sure is my first and probably last bikini. Holding the Bebe gun that probably shot Wendy in the fanny. Maybe this picture is why I don't remember it (or Mike) shooting me with it. I know I am a little bit afraid of this 4 year old. Maybe it is the way she is putting her back into it. Looks like she REALLY wants to hit her target. Knowing my aim now, I thing I should have just used the gun to whack the target instead of trying to shoot it. Lessons we learn as we age huh? Even thou I still feel like shooting someone when they make me get out of my chair to this day. Specially my lounging chair outside. I do wish I still had that cushion, this one hurts my butt after a bit. Must be that age thing again.



This one only needs a brief explanation. This is what happens when you move a small town girl to the big city and hand her a crimper. No folks, there was no ozone layer harmed in this picture. That is ALL hair. At first it use to bug me that it would not lay flat, but hey! I was cool! Learned to give into my hair and still do, yes, making me STILL cool. Thank you very much. Of course now I know why Mom was so upset with this picture. Time and wisdom have taught me that this is not a good look, even for me. Poor Eric, he married this. Life is silly huh?

Raise your hand if you remember this? How many times did we make it to this point without already screaming at Mike to "WAIT FOR US!!!" Maybe it would have been better for Mom to let me and Wendy go to the pool by ourselves. I really do not think that the guy that everyone was trying to scare us with, you know the one. The big tattooed guy with no hair and the words "love" and "hate" tattooed on his fingers. I don't think he really existed, I just don't. But if Mom would have, would my lungs be as healthy as they are now? D'Kota and Dylan would not be able to hear me yell at them across town. This is where Wendy's fear of water was born and where Chavonne came to never get wet. And Mike came to see if he could hear his sister's screams under water. Good times, good times.

Mom? How many rats do you see? "You kids better not be going over there and be playing in those! There are rats and they could fall on you!" Don't worry Mom, I did not get too close, I have a zoom lens. The only ones that I remember ever going over there was Clod. O and of course, Mike. Mike did it. A LOT!!! (wink, wink, te he he)

I know you can not really see the house because of the tree. But you can somewhat see the porch and stairs. The house does not look the same, they finally painted it. And the trees are bigger, as you can see. But the fence brings back memories even thou I know it is not the same one. I remember when Dad pulled the old one down and I would ride my bike around the block and tease Clod cause he still thought the fence was there and would not leave the yard. Dogs are so goofy. I also didn't know how anyone would react to some lady standing in the alley taking pictures of their house. Huh Wendy? So I had to hide myself from the windows. I still think if any of us was to close our eyes, we would see this house and everything inside it like we were standing just outside it.

How luckily were we that our Dad worked only walking distance from us? And could come home for lunch? Life was so much simpler for us back then. I hope my boys will someday realize how luckily they are that their Dad is that close to them all day as well. No Dad I will not bring up the story of you walking down those stairs really funny like. Oopps! Looks like I just did!! Stop laughing Mom! It's not still that funny. Is it? I think so!!

This one is loads of fun for me. Looking out at the play ground of the school. So many memories of playing out there. Learning to fly out of the swings and landing on my butt, if I was luckily that is and not my head. Making people scream because you were going the wrong way up the slide. And never, and I mean to this day never, being able to make it across those monkey bars. Maybe I didn't want it enough. Darn, things we give up. They did get rid of those concrete tunnel things, loved those. I bet each one of us can tell you about the kid in our class that busted his or her head on those.

Now maybe my sons can get a little better idea as to where their Mom got her coolness from. This is the place that built me.