Okay, that was the address years and years ago. My dad sent me a link to the listing for their home. After 35+ years, my parents have decided to sell their house and move to Utah. I grew up in this house and we never moved. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to clean up and walk away from something that has been your life for so long. Well, I guess it would look a little like this (thanks Brad for the first 2 pictures):
The spruce tree in the front yard is so big! Fifteen years ago, I was accidentally driving over it with a riding lawn mower! The other little tree that’s barely visible in front of the living room window was planted about the time Ashley was a baby (18 years ago this fall). I remember Brian telling Ashley it was the “Oak Leaf Ash-ley” tree.
It’s a bit weird. While you have your wife’s family also with Rexnieg roots, I can’t help but wonder if this is one of my last trips to this part of Idaho. Of course I’d imagine I might need to take some kids to Jodi’s place, it certainly feels like an end to my numerous trips to Rexburg.
Looking at the pictures and reminiscing about the past 40+ years leaves an emptiness that is hard to describe. Yes, it has been just over 35 years in one place! Eric was born about a month before we moved in, which was just before Christmas in 1971. Patricia (the mom) has been after me for several years to clean the garage. One more trip to Rexburg and the garage will be totally cleaned out! Life brings challenges, even when you do what is right. Thanks, Scott, for wanting to be in Rexburg during Easter weekend.
I think driving by the house now will be a bit surreal – kind of like when Mom and her brothers sold Grandma’s house after she died. It was weird to see other people in that house, and to see how they didn’t attend to the yard and garden with the same detail which it had previously been given.
As I took a photo of Brad, Eric and Jodi sitting on the front porch after a day of packing. It was very surreal ! Although I didn’t gorw up in this home I am a beneficiary of the blessings and values that were taught in this home. This is a home where five succesful children were raised. It will be missed.
Living, learning, and growing in a home for more than 35 years has the roots pretty deep. I’ve joke around a bit about using equity to purchase land to ensure a return to the Rexburg area. The only ground that I can think that we would purchase to ensure that return would be a couple of plots at the Burton Cemetery. Yes, it was strange driving a big truck, with 35 years of accummulation, at the speed limit down a busy highway. I thought of the pioneers (who didn’t have a land fill or D.I. to use as resources). We have talked that we hope the young couple who is purchasing our home will keep it in good repair. Thanks Magan, for seeing the real success of what occured in the home at 1490 South 4000 West (Route 1 Box 242 – Burton Road, just south of the canal). We count our blessings each day.