Posts Tagged ‘Home’
The Things We Save
Thursday, November 14th, 2019
I recently participated in a 14-day writing project focusing on one word or phrase. The word “home” has been on my mind. My sisters and I have been going through our childhood home the past few months in order to clean it out. Most of our weekends have been spent packing and wrapping, tossing and filling boxes for donations. It’s been very emotional. As I come across various photos and old objects, I found myself laughing and crying. This is the home I grew up in. It’s the home my mom and dad raised their family in. And gathered with friends in. And welcomed strangers. So much of my mom and dad are still in this home. There are so many memories and collections of belongings that fill “289.” As my sisters and I go through closets and dressers, cabinets and clutter, it has been difficult discerning the treasures from the trash. We often must look at some items a few times to decide what to keep or give away. We angst over things to toss or take.
I don’t always know the meaning of things my parents kept – some of it was just for sentimental reasons; some of it was passed on from their family; and some of it was saved as gifts to pass on to their daughters. As I look through the stuff in the house, I often feel like none of it belongs to me. And yet, I feel like my parents wanted us to feel their legacy through the things they saved. Every photo, every piece of Irish crystal, every teacup, every vinyl record is their way of passing down their stories, their dreams, and their hopes of a better life for their daughters. Perhaps we won’t have to struggle as much as they did.
This was more than a house my family lived in. This was a place full of love and loss. This was my home. And it always will be. I don’t always know the meaning of the things they saved. I only know the things they saved help me remember them. My heart is grateful for the things they saved.
Home is more than a place of arrival and departure. It’s a journey. It’s finding our home again and again. And it’s an outreached arm, saying, “Welcome Home.”
Welcome Home
Friday, April 12th, 2019
I stood along the third base side at Citi Field wearing my David Wright jersey on the last day of the 2018 season. I was there to both cheer on the Mets and honor my dad, who passed away in early September. I brought three orchids to represent each of his daughters and asked security after the game if I could leave them on the field. I had shared about my dad’s love of the Mets and his recent passing. Security allowed me to place the flowers on the field along the third base side. I released each flower with love and gratitude to my dad – a life-long Mets fan. It was a beautiful tribute and I cried the whole time.
When tickets came on sale for the 2019 season, I had to buy Opening Day tickets. I had to keep the Mets baseball traditions and memories alive. One of the rituals I had with my dad was talking about the Mets rosters, line-ups, and who we would have starting each game. So as April 4th rolled around, I could feel both the joy and sadness rise up in me. I felt the longing of missing my Mets conversations with my dad and the joy of cheering along with the sold-out crowd.
As the 7-train pulled into Mets-Willets Field Station, I felt my dad with me. I walked up to Citi Field with great pride. I looked up at the sky and winked and knew my dad was watching. He would have been thrilled I was at Opening Day and would have asked me, “How did you arrange getting those tickets?”
Inside the stadium, I took in the familiar views and sounds of Citi Field. I walked along the Field Level and saw Mr. Met. There was an area that fans could go to take pictures with him. I stood on line thinking it would be a cute photo to share. When my turn came, Mr. Met looked at me, opened his arms and gave me a big hug. I felt my dad was saying, “I’m here. Welcome home.” We stood together taking numerous photos.
I am sure there will be more reminders that my dad is always with me. And on Opening Day, I felt my dad’s presence and heard his booming voice, “Welcome Home.”