micro 0 #1 January 5, 2006 Illinois, here we come. The funny thing is, I've been jonesing to sell this place in Nashville for so long, I thought I'd be really excited about selling it. But you know, I'm actually quite sad. I mean, my lovely wife and I bought this place one year after we got married. She was pregnant with our first child. It was really our "first home." Now, we have four kids. We've been here 10 years. So many memories are here. I grew up in the military, never living in one spot long enough to get warm. This has been the longest I've lived anywhere. All my kids were born in this town. All our friends are here. And while we're moving up north to be closer to my wife's family, which is a wonderful thing, it is an end to an equally wonderful chapter in our lives, and for that, tonight I'm grieving. I never thought I'd feel this way about a "house." I guess it's b/c this isn't just a house. It's our home. The really cool thing about this though, is that the couple who is buying the house from us, is the same couple we bought the house from 10 years ago! At the time, they had three kids about to enter high school. They wanted their kids to go to a different high school than the one in this neighborhood, so they moved. Now, their kids are grown and the couple wants to return to the same house they raised their kids in. The markings in the closet door frames are still there that says how tall their kids were at various ages. Lori and I just couldn't bring ourselves to paint over that history. It's too important. To us, that kind of history is sacred. When this couple came over tonight to look at "their" old house, the mom just cried when she saw the markings. It was beautiful. It's like we're giving them back what was always theirs. And now, I'm crying too, because at the end of February, when we pack up and move to Illinois, we'll leave this home behind to start a new life for our family. We'll leave behind this place where we brought each one of our newborns home. We'll leave behind the place of our first Christmas as a family. The treehouse I made in our backyard. (Ask Michele and Muenkel - it rocks). Our neighbors. Our tree-lined creekbed that runs through the west side of our property, that has an owl who has lived up there as long as we've been here. It's a death, of sorts. I thought I'd be happy to sell this place, and in a way, I am. It just feels right to sell it back to the couple who we bought if from. And I'm sure that eventually I will be glad to have moved our family closer to my wife's kin. Buttonight, well tonight, I'm mostly sad. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #2 January 5, 2006 Of course you're sad... but it's so cool to think that your home is going back to someone else who had it as a home. You know it will be in good hands. That has to mean a lot. My brother and his wife recently visited our old hometown and went to the house where we lived until I was 4 and he was 7 (it was, like your house, my parents' "first home"). It had been condemned by the Department of Public Health! They walked around but couldn't quite figure out why. Sounds like you can rest assured that your "first home" will be well-protected from such a fate with its new (old) owners."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #3 January 5, 2006 Your treehouse rocks. It really does. And it's a great place for the original owners' grandchildren to come play in. I know it feels like the closing of a chapter. But the good thing is that there are so many more chapters waiting to be written, and now you can write them in Illinois near family and on the farm. How great that is...how absolutely wonderful. Congratulations, and well done. Cry as you need to, but also look forward with a smile; for there are many, many smiles to be had coming in the future. My love and hugs to the whole family; even the dog. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #4 January 5, 2006 thx babe. look forward to having you out when we settle in. and bring the rig. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #5 January 5, 2006 I could use a break...and I will definitely bring the rig. What a kick that would be - to finally get a jump in with you. How excellent. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #6 January 5, 2006 QuoteI could use a break...and I will definitely bring the rig. What a kick that would be - to finally get a jump in with you. How excellent. Ciels- Michele now if we could just fix muenkel's brain... I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #7 January 5, 2006 QuoteI could use a break...and I will definitely bring the rig. What a kick that would be - to finally get a jump in with you. How excellent. Ciels- Michele -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- now if we could just fix muenkel's brain... Hey, I wouldn't mind being on the ground rooting you two on. Congrats on selling the house. Prayers were answered quickly! Michele's right, the treehouse does rock. Why don't you take it with you? Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #8 January 5, 2006 Pics,,,smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #9 January 5, 2006 Where in Illinois? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #10 January 5, 2006 somewhere b/t effingham and vandalia. not sure exactly where yet... we'll rent for a while then probably build. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #11 January 5, 2006 Quotesomewhere b/t effingham and vandalia. Quote Ahhh...the fond memories of the Illinois Correctional Institutions around THAT area! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charmsdroppop 0 #12 January 5, 2006 Wow I can see why you're sad about it. I hate moving and it's always hard but just think of all the new crazies you'll meet! I do wish you and your family the best and WELCOME to Illinois. What town are you invading anyway? I'll put in a good word for ya...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chaoskitty 0 #13 January 5, 2006 You have FOUR KIDS??? Hey man, change is a part of life. But now you have to pack and move, and then unpack when you get there. Thats a pain.. but family is what is important. Have fun moving! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #14 January 5, 2006 QuoteYou have FOUR KIDS??? Hey man, change is a part of life. But now you have to pack and move, and then unpack when you get there. Thats a pain.. but family is what is important. Have fun moving! where you been girl, do you not read any of the sh1t I write on here? Yeah, I have 4 kids! And the wife is hungry for more seed! I've been having to beat her off w/ a stick! I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #15 January 5, 2006 QuoteWow I can see why you're sad about it. I hate moving and it's always hard but just think of all the new crazies you'll meet! I do wish you and your family the best and WELCOME to Illinois. What town are you invading anyway? I'll put in a good word for ya...... thx... coming from you the good word will undoubtedly open many doors for me! as for locale, somewhere between effingham and vandalia. my wife's fam all live in effingham, but I need to have access to the st. louis airport for work, so i'm voting for closer to vandalia... closer to the dz that way too. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #16 January 5, 2006 QuoteQuotesomewhere b/t effingham and vandalia. Quote Ahhh...the fond memories of the Illinois Correctional Institutions around THAT area! Now wait a second, Jim, you didn't mention any thing like that when we spoke yesterday. Maybe I should rethink things... Good to talk to you, thanks for taking the time for me. It was very, very helpful! More later... edit: Jim, as I was packing for my trip to see skymonkeyONE today (and his lovely wife, let's not forget!), I was watching Tom Sander's old flick "Over The Edge." There's a night demo jump w/ lots of pyro under canopy... is that you?!?! I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #17 January 5, 2006 Congrats and good luck with the move! Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #18 January 5, 2006 Hey, you freakin moron, don't you know it's COLD in Illinois? See you this evening, foo! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #19 January 5, 2006 QuoteHey, you freakin moron, don't you know it's COLD in Illinois? See you this evening, foo! yeah, I know. but if I want jump approval from the wife-unit, I had to give up a concession or two... besides, after Chris passed away, not many places close to jump in Nashville. in IL, I'll be about 10-15 min. probably from Archway. Not bad, I do say. See ya tonight. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #20 January 5, 2006 QuoteI was watching Tom Sander's old flick "Over The Edge." There's a night demo jump w/ lots of pyro under canopy... is that you?!?! Quote Why yes...it is! ...and the PIC on the cover of the guy on fire is me as well...next time you watch it, in your new place...pay close attention to the stuff going on during the credits at the end....I'm in there NEKID! Four of us jumped out in our birthday suits to make an 8 way on one of the lingerie jumps! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
