There's No Place Like Home

"You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right." ~Maya Angelou

So here it is. The last day with 12 West Street as our home. I never thought I'd see the day when there was no one named Williams or Davis living there--at one point there was nine of us, plus a dog or a cat, a friend, boyfriend, grandchild or two. No one ever did nor do they now have a key--when the realtor asked my mom for the keys, she had to shrug and say she never had one. Our doors were never locked, as all our friends and family knew. Everyone was welcome any time, either to sit and chill or swim. It was the big house on the hill and there was always room for one more.

Now times have changed and a few of us had moved out or moved on, there is no crazy statue in the front yard or a run-down '64 Mustang in the driveway, but the little touches by my grandmother, my Uncle Jimmy, my parents and us are everywhere. It is sad to have to leave most of those little aspects of the house that made it a home behind, but we will always have their memories in our hearts and stories on our lips to keep West Street alive. So goodbye to my childhood home, but now we will have to start new traditions and memories in new houses, and hopefully, the people who bought her will spruce her up and sell her to a new family whose story is just beginning.

I'm proud of you, Mom, for doing what had to be done, and I know that we will all find happiness and love in these new places in our lives, because of the perfect home we had growing up. I love you!