Home Not Forgotten

 

When I was young and single, I would tell my mother (otherwise known as Nan) that if I ever got married, I would probably run away (like she and my Dad did).  

Nan:  Fine

Me: I don't really want a wedding, I just want to be married.

Nan: Fine.  We'll give you the money.

So when Chris and I were planning on getting married, my Dad, not being privy to that conversation with my mother, offered to pay for our wedding. It seemed silly at our age, but I was his oldest daughter, and he adored my husband.  Two mortgages between us.

The crash of 2008 hit both of us pretty hard.  I had just sold my beloved house in Branford, and moved in with Chris.  All part of the plan to eventually consolidate into a single house.  Our Dream House.

Two days after I closed out my house sale and moved in with him, he got laid off from his job in the marine industry.  Good thing one of us was working.  One mortgage between us.  That very week was the big banking crash.

Two months later, I got laid off from my job.  Still one mortgage.

Now what.

Having pulled all of my equity out of both California and now Branford at the right time I had a pretty big lump of cash.  Having purchased his house in 2002, Chris had some benefit from the housing run up, and he had a pretty good equity position as well.  We could still do it, and come out mortage free.

Six months and 75 house showing later (Chris had by now given up looking and let me cull the herd), I call his mobile phone.  He was on his way to get Grace the Girl for the weekend.

Me:  You need to get over here and see this.

Chris:  Where are you?

Me:  I'm sitting on an empty foundation looking at Chamard Vineyard.  Stop home and get my checkbook.

We gave the builder a deposit on the spot.

It was going to be almosts perfect.  Not a ranch, but we could still get a great room with a fireplace in the right spot, our own bathrooms, and a view.

What it didn't have was a porch included in the plan.  Or the price.

So, our plans ended up being what my mother and I had always talked about.  We didn't want a wedding, we wanted a porch.

We got a porch for a wedding present.  Thank you, Daddy, we love you and miss you!