The House That Built Me

I was down in our old neighborhood the other night for dinner with some work ladies and I drove by our old house on Dupont Ave North.  I surprised myself by getting a little choked up.  I drive by every time I'm in the area but now that I don't work downtown I find myself in Minneapolis less and less.  And it kind of makes me sad.  When did I become this socially detached suburbanite who can't stand the thought of living in a house without at least a 2 car attached garage, central air and a gas fireplace? 

For those of you who don't know, the house I grew up in was built in 1907 and was the greatest house ever.  Still is the greatest house ever; hardwood floors, claw foot bathtub, sliding panel doors in the living room, the original doorbell that you had to crank to use.  I'd love to eventually buy it from the nice family that moved in after my mom but Jason will take some convincing. 

Seeing the house reminded me of a country song that, while doesn't exactly fit my life story, captures the essence of how seeing my old house makes me feel.  I hope to buy a house soon that Eva can grow up in and feel a real connection to.

"I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could walk around I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me"
~Miranda Lambert