After a long summer of house showings, it looks like my house has finally sold and I will be moving on, in a few weeks. It's a bittersweet process. I raised my children here. I nursed my mom through her final days here. I have lived in this house longer than any other place in my entire life.
Sixteen years.
In May of 2005 Mom had sold her house in Augusta and I was in the process of selling my condo in Tucker, and we found this house. It's pictured below, behind the trees. We had looked and looked, and had a hard time locating a house with a big bedroom and private bathroom on the ground floor. We liked the schools in this area. I had adopted Alesia in 2004 and I wanted her to live in a home with a yard. I already knew I was going to adopt another child, and I loved playing outside as a child, so I wanted that for my kids.
In addition to the perfect room for Mom, this house checked a lot of boxes. Big yard. Lots of trees. Room for a garden. Walking distance to the elementary and middle schools. Lots of families on the street. Pool and tennis courts a short walk away.
My neighbors have been the absolute best neighbors in the world.
When I have been sick or hospitalized, they have been there. When Mother has been sick, they have been there. I called my neighbor Jenean one day, frantic, because Mom had fallen and was refusing to go to the hospital. Mike wasn't answering his phone. I couldn't figure out how to keep Mom at home and take care of her properly. Jenean brought food. Another neighbor bought me a potty chair for her. Another neighbor walked Lola for me.
One neighbor paid my kids to walk his dogs, so they could get a little exercise and have a little spending money.
Another neighbor suggested a tennis coach for my son, and he was soon happily taking lessons and loving the sport.
Neighbors have quietly helped me decorate for Halloween, have left gift cards in the mailbox, have mulched my flower beds when I didn't have the time or money.
I will miss the house terribly, but I will miss the neighbors and neighborhood more. Even though I live in big bad ATLANTA -- at least that's my address -- I really think of myself as a Tuckerite. Tucker, Georgia, is a small town, like many small towns. Main Street. Super Walmart. Small businesses galore. A great farmer's market. A Mom and Pop meat market with great takeout food [Tucker Meat Market]. They do fireworks downtown every July 4th. They decorate main street at Christmas. I am on the community Facebook group frequently [Tucker Town Talk] because I can find out who to call to fix my fridge, or replace my spark plugs, or babysit my dog, very quickly.
I plan to stay in this area, where I feel part of a vibrant small town community. I am hunting for a new place, and packing up my stuff.
I will take with me a million memories. They don't stay with the house. They are carried with me always, in my heart...
