I drive, approaching a home of so many beautiful memories. I recall sneaking into the forbidden studio, playing the piano; climbing the stairs to the princess's tower/prison cell; running through golden fields; flying on the abnormally tall swing...
This place has changed though, it has received a makeover. I park my car, and walk through the lawn, around to the back door. The home itself greets me. We are good friends. It is when I walk inside, I meet strangers.
"Oh! We thought were not going to make it. You just missed your mom."
"She said she was going hiking."
"I thought she was talking about all of the things she needed to do."
"Well, we all know my mom is a bit eccentric, which is where I get it from."
There is a baby. I have forgotten, my cousin had a kid a few months back. Looks like 6 or 7. Babies are aliens. They scare me.
My grandmother stands up to hug me. Surprising. But I accept. She has good intentions, and a peaceful heart. Never mind that she is spending the inheritance of my aunts, uncles and mother on face lifts and beauty treatments. She went through a lot to get that money, she can do what she wants with it, I guess. The next hug comes from my bleach blonde (dyed) aunt. She is always happy to see me, until we realize we have nothing to say to one another. Barely a glance from my other cousin and his wife. They have done things the "right way." The cousin with the child says hello. I hold her baby for a moment, then pass it back.
I look at her and her husband, and the word "hick" comes quickly to my mind. I so do not envy them. She still has all of the weight she gained from pregnancy, and perhaps some more. Well, who am I to judge. I have been blessed with an easy life and a high metabolism.
Another greeting from my other aunt, and namesake, verbal. She has a bad back. It is okay that she does not stand.
"Well, hello, goodbye."
Everyone echoes goodbyes. As I am leaving a glance from my uncle, married to my namesake. Perhaps a word. He is thinking, what a tragedy, what a disappointment I have turned out to be. Well, what can you expect, being raised by the parents that I had. Success was never achievable... they did what they could.
I want to tell him to stop judging me, that we would like one another a lot more, if he could do that. I am having sex, and am not married. We will never see eye to eye. And we will never respect one another again. That is too bad. I always liked him. He was a good, if odd looking, guy.
And, I escape. Back to the house, back to the yard, which sends a hug on a breeze, and asks me to come back soon. Dance through the forgotten halls and hidden rooms. Echo songs against the walls, and blow kisses out the windows.
Strange. And yet familiar.
This place has changed though, it has received a makeover. I park my car, and walk through the lawn, around to the back door. The home itself greets me. We are good friends. It is when I walk inside, I meet strangers.
"Oh! We thought were not going to make it. You just missed your mom."
"She said she was going hiking."
"I thought she was talking about all of the things she needed to do."
"Well, we all know my mom is a bit eccentric, which is where I get it from."
There is a baby. I have forgotten, my cousin had a kid a few months back. Looks like 6 or 7. Babies are aliens. They scare me.
My grandmother stands up to hug me. Surprising. But I accept. She has good intentions, and a peaceful heart. Never mind that she is spending the inheritance of my aunts, uncles and mother on face lifts and beauty treatments. She went through a lot to get that money, she can do what she wants with it, I guess. The next hug comes from my bleach blonde (dyed) aunt. She is always happy to see me, until we realize we have nothing to say to one another. Barely a glance from my other cousin and his wife. They have done things the "right way." The cousin with the child says hello. I hold her baby for a moment, then pass it back.
I look at her and her husband, and the word "hick" comes quickly to my mind. I so do not envy them. She still has all of the weight she gained from pregnancy, and perhaps some more. Well, who am I to judge. I have been blessed with an easy life and a high metabolism.
Another greeting from my other aunt, and namesake, verbal. She has a bad back. It is okay that she does not stand.
"Well, hello, goodbye."
Everyone echoes goodbyes. As I am leaving a glance from my uncle, married to my namesake. Perhaps a word. He is thinking, what a tragedy, what a disappointment I have turned out to be. Well, what can you expect, being raised by the parents that I had. Success was never achievable... they did what they could.
I want to tell him to stop judging me, that we would like one another a lot more, if he could do that. I am having sex, and am not married. We will never see eye to eye. And we will never respect one another again. That is too bad. I always liked him. He was a good, if odd looking, guy.
And, I escape. Back to the house, back to the yard, which sends a hug on a breeze, and asks me to come back soon. Dance through the forgotten halls and hidden rooms. Echo songs against the walls, and blow kisses out the windows.
Strange. And yet familiar.
sounds like a successful visit. and by the way you are not a disappointment to any one who knows what to look for.
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