Linda says to write ✍️ about memories of the room we’re in as we complete the prompt. If we’re not in a room, we can use whatever place we’re at be it a park or the gym or wherever.
I’m in my living room of our forever home 🏡 which we moved into on January 19, 2000. I remember vividly how some folks were prepping for Y2K as we were prepping for our new abode. My friend was stocking up on canned goods & bottled water 💧 . B and I were going with the flow. We didn’t buy into the hype which turned out to be nothing. Not even a blip. My mother died never seeing this place but my daddy was with us until February 2007.
Have you ever heard the expression if these walls could talk? As I look around the living room so different than the original because we had to replace everything after the big break-in, I am flooded with gratitude. My heart ♥️ is full as I remember how we spent time together with our extended family. Every Christmas 🎄 from 2000 until 2006. All of us swinging from the proverbial rafters. So much food as everyone brought a dish. Always enough for leftovers. And the conversations!! I come from a long line of storytellers. The epic capstone though was the white elephant 🐘 gift exchange. No more than $5 for gag gift 🎁 even better if you went shopping 🛍️ in your closet 🤣 Not only can we tell stories, we’re creative in our gift giving with recycled hilarity. We tried to get together after daddy died but it wasn’t the same so we stopped ❤️🩹
Damn if someone isn’t cutting onions around here. I’m not crying, you’re crying 😢. They could’ve kicked me out after my momma died but they didn’t. I’m forever the adorable 🥰 (ya I said adorable) little sister. I really did hit the lottery with the family who raised me. And when I see myself trying to cultivate relationships with blood 🩸 kin, I question my motives. Lightning ⚡️ doesn’t strike twice in the same spot. How greedy to think 🤔 I could have those kind of relationships again, twice in my lifetime.
Still my heart ♥️ wants what it wants. I love complete strangers automatically. Hard for many to fathom but that’s the thing, it’s not understandable. I tried to explain my feelings to a friend but I got choked up when I started to explain. She stopped me and with her hand on my shoulder she said “Don’t try to speak. I get it. You love the world 🌎 so deeply because you were hurt so badly 😞” and she’s right. The preverbal trauma of relinquishment colors everything in my life.
I could keep streaming but I’m not gonna wallow. Instead I’m going to tidy up. Later we’ll order in a big breakfast. Then I’ll lounge away the day in our living room full of memories.
As always, more to come.
J-Dub's Grin and Bear It 