Saying goodbye to our former home
of 46 years is an ongoing process as we gradually deal with nearly half a
century of accumulation.
We had just pulled into the driveway of our old home on the first morning back from a four-day trip to visit family. We
faced another session of sorting possessions into “keep,” “share” and “toss”
categories.
A sense of goodbye to a season of
life slammed into me. There I sat, absorbing facets of springtime at our former
address. Hubby’s hibiscus bush that had survived the winter sported two vibrant
red blooms.
Confederate jasmine
In the background, the confederate
jasmine vine that I had given him several years ago had erupted into bloom,
covered with more of the small fragrant flowers than ever before.
Blueberry survivor
A foray into the backyard included
a visit to a blueberry bush. It originated from one of several
skinny sprouts my mother and I had dug up in 2009 from around one of the
Tifblue blueberry bushes in her backyard. That was shortly before she moved to
a studio apartment in a new assisted living home.
Her original plants were
pass-alongs from Levi, her oldest brother and one of my favorite uncles. Now he,
Mother and all their siblings are gone.
The sole sprout that survived in
our backyard is now a respectable size. It had lots of blooms on it this year. It also has plump berries ripening now.
A number of “babies” are sprouting up around it. I hope some of its offspring will survive their move to our new property.
A number of “babies” are sprouting up around it. I hope some of its offspring will survive their move to our new property.
Three plants, three goodbyes. But the memories go with me to our new address.