Say good-bye to the play set, kids!

Three low-ball offers later, we have finally accepted an offer for our house in Chicagoland. After going back and forth in negotiations, we had to begrudgingly throw in the washer/dryer and brand-new Rainbow Play Systems swing set to sweeten the deal. In today's market, you almost have to give your firstborn child (and the kitchen sink) to entice and satisfy buyers.

I still have mixed emotions about selling the house. I'm mostly angry and depressed because not only are we practically giving the house away but we also gave away the kids' beloved play set to boot! What else in my life is for sale--cheap? It's like someone is hosting a garage sale on my life and everything must go! I sold my car before moving west. I gave away boxes and boxes of toys, clothes, shoes, books, and who knows what else. Now, we're selling the house. A houseful of memories clear as day, with laughter that still rings through its hallways and tears that have stained the carpets. If we hold dear the memories of this house, will this dwelling dwell upon us?

I have become sentimental in my approaching old age.

What the Gettysburg Address and Daffodils have in common

When Liam was four years old, before he could read or write words on his own, we asked him to transcribe Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in its entirety. I think it took him three weeks to finish. The writing is obviously childish and the lettering is quite amusing and imaginative to the say the least but it captures a moment in his young years that we will never get back. Of course, we had the precious pages matted and framed. Much like filming or photographing the kids in various stages of their lives from babyhood, first steps, holidays, or simply playing, we wanted to record (in writing) this snippet in time before they could read much less understand what they were writing. I think they, as will we--the proud parents, look upon these early writing samples and remember back to their toddling years with much fondness. For me, I'm sure I'll shed a sentimental tear or two.

Now that Kimmie is at the same age, we toiled over which passage she would copy. We decided that it must be a poem. Dave came across the lovely poem "I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud" by William Wordsworth. I hadn't read this poem since my younger days and it instantly carried me back to when I loved to read and write poetry (oh so long ago). I had forgotten this poem and when I read it again, I knew at once that it was the perfect one. Knowing that daffodils are one of my favorite obsessions, Dave was a sweetheart to reintroduce this poem into my life. Now I will always have my daffodils (and flower fields) as transcribed by my lovely little lass.

I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud

by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;

A poet could not be but gay,

In such a jocund company!

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.