3/24/14

Memories of my Parent's First Home and Miranda Lambert's "The House That Built Me"

Originally posted on July 2, 2011.

I had forgotten about this post since it was written so long ago, before I knew what a follower was, before I met any of the dear blogging friends I have now, and long before I realized what a wonderful world blogging was going to open up for me. Then yesterday someone left a comment on this post and so I went back to look at it, and as I read the words I wrote in 2011, I found myself being flooded with emotions.


We lived in this home until I was 8 years old. We only moved one mile across town, but you would have thought by my reaction at the time, we were moving to Siberia.


About 20 years after my parents moved from this home it was back on the market, and I decided to go to the open house. I hadn't been inside the house for a very long time, but despite any of the changes the succeeding owners may have made, it was still as I remembered. The Realtor asked me if I needed her to show me the house...I smiled and politely declined her offer. I just needed some alone time with my childhood home. 

When I came across this song I immediately connected with it because it took me right back to that day of the open house. I remember walking into my old bedroom that I shared with my little sister Kim. The  big oak tree which sat right outside our bedroom window was still there only larger. The recreation room my father had remodeled based on my mother's design brought back so many fond memories of long ago birthday parties and family gatherings. Our backyard, well it was still the same. It has this small bump of a hill, and when I saw it I suddenly recalled being a little girl sledding down it in my mother's arms.


my 5th birthday with brother steve helping to blow out the candles

group photo from my 5th birthday

kim's first birthday with cousin judy celebrating her 8th


I just love the lyrics and the tune...take a listen...maybe this song will jar some old memories for you...and possibly, put a smile in your heart, as it did mine.


"The House That Built Me"
sung by Miranda Lambert




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 hand prints 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
Now 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


"Home is the place you grow up wanting to leave, 
and grow old wanting to get back to."
~John Ed Pearce (1917 - 2006)
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist

Wishing you all a wonderful week!
XO
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18 comments:

  1. I have always loved that song and wish I could go back to one of my childhood homes. Didn't live in any very long since my dad was always transferred about every three years until I was 11 and we stayed put.

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  2. Oh such a perfect post. I think we all long for "home". Hugs, marty

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  3. It will soon be two years since my mother died and we emptied and repaired my childhood home to sell it. Sixty years of memories for me and my siblings, and the grandchildren who came later. Such beautiful memories in my heart of times gone by. That little white house with the red trim will always be "home". Thanks for the post and the song.....its good to remember where we came from. Blessings, Linda

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  4. That's such a bittersweet song to me. I think of my childhood home and life...nothing is the same. Not bad - just not the same. You know?

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  5. That is a bittersweet song, and I love Miranda Lambert. I never want to go back home, my childhood was so difficult. But I do miss and love my Mom, she was the glue that held us together I have driven past our home and it looks the same, but going in would bring to many bad memories. But I am happy that yours bring good ones. That's what childhoods should all be about. Loved seeing you younger.

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  6. "The House That Built Me" was the driving force behind the name of my store "Vintage Begonia". I chose this name because of where I grew up, on Begonia street. This is where, like yourself that I have so many of my wonderful memories, that I will cherish always! I was raised in that home in the 1960's and 70's, oh what a wonderful time that was! Thank You so much for sharing!

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  7. Oh, Barbara- What a sad/sweet memory here. That song makes me want to cry. When I went home when my brother died I took a trip up to the old farm where I was born and raised. They had taken down the last of the big barn and the house had burned to the ground and a new home had been built on the foundation. It was really bittersweet. Losing my brother was the last tie I had to that old homestead. You can never REALLY go home again-but those memories last forever. xo Diana

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  8. What great memories you have of your beautiful home. Thanks for sharing this post with us. I am sure it brought back so many wonderful .memories
    Mary

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  9. It is a charming house and has virtually been untouched by time. I am glad you got to go inside. xo, olive

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  10. Oh Barbara, what a beautiful home! What a blessing to have gone inside and relive some of your memories there, be still my heart! Oh, that song, I've always get misty eyed when I hear it, it's beautiful and I think of my home growing up and my memories there. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and meaningful post. Love that song!
    Nancy

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  11. This is such a sweet post, so poignant. thanks for sharing.

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  12. Barbara, I'm blubbering! Such a great post and what a wonderful song.. I'm so glad you got to go back and walk through the memories of home. We all need to do that once in awhile, only if it is just in our minds..Happy Thursday and Thank you..Judy

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  13. Hi Barbara,
    Love this song, love your post. We all have that special place with the memories of our life and how lucky that you were able to visit it once more.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Suzanne
    Pieced Pastimes

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  14. I had not heard that song before. I have been back to my childhood home as an adult, it seemed weird in some ways, although my childhood wasn't the best. There were good and bad memories. I love your family pics from the past. If you have not shared at the Bacon Time linky yet, please do.

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  15. Well I'm just bawling like a baby right now! I'd never heard that song and absolutely love it. I once wrote about going back to our old home, where I'd lived when I was 6 years old. It was magical being able to walk through the apartment I'd lived in back in 1960 with my parents and sister. I relived that experience once again through this song - thanks so much for the memories!

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  16. I always cry when I hear that song. I too was lucky enough to go back into my childhood home during and open house. When I went into the basement where our birthday parties were held, I saw a tiny piece of pink crepe paper stuck to the furnace duct and knew it was from one of our parties. I very carefully peeled it off and took it with me (with the realtors permission). It lives in a scrapbook now. What great memories.

    Linda

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  17. What a wonderful post, Barbara. I know my old house seemed so much smaller when I came back as an adult. very inspiring Thanks for sharing it with us!

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