First Home, Last Goodbye

What a sad day it is, when you say your final goodbye to your very first home. Today is that day for me. The house where my parents brought me home from the hospital when I was born. The house where my dad brought all four of us home from the hospital after his young wife, our mom, passed away. The house where I came home from my first day of preschool and my last day of college. The house of safe-keeping and sibling rivalry, sleep-overs and sneaking out, late night snacks and the unfolding of a million stories. The house where I was always welcome. The house I guess I always thought would be there. At least I never really thought this day would come.

I don't quite know what to say to give that place the honor it deserves. All I know is that every place I've lived since and every place I'll ever call home, will have to share my heart with that humble, orange house. Home was defined for me there. Home means nothing to me without it.