What is it?

In 10 days, we are supposed to move from our current rental. This will be our fifth move in six years. Since 2009, we’ve lived in four houses and one apartment complex, in two different apartments on that last one. My husband and I have changed jobs several times. We lost a few, too. Also since our initial move from our beloved Oak Lane Cottage, both of my children were diagnosed with chronic health conditions – my daughter with epilepsy, my son with Type 1 diabetes.  Neither condition runs in our family.  Only 5% of people with diabetes have Griffin’s form of the disease.  “A bad break,” one of the doctors said to me when Griffin was initially hospitalized.
Yeah. We are familiar with that term.
But, we are also deeply aware of the kindness shown to us through the rough times, gestures we will always remember. I hope we’ve done our part to help others, too. We certainly have real-life examples. How to show up. How to reassure.
How to love, really.
Our current landlord falls into this category. But, he’s more than a landlord. Scott Wilkerson has been my friend since Kindergarten. His father, Dr. Frank Robbins Wilkerson, was our family doctor for many years until he passed. His mother, Jo Wilkerson, owns our rental home so she shares in the landlord duty.  Frank and Jo moved into this house in 1964, the year Scott and I were born. They raised three children here, grew as a family, entertained friends and kids and, later, cared for Frank during his illness.

Jo lived here until she turned 80 telling her kids, two of whom had moved to Katy, Texas many years prior, “I’ll move to Katy when I’m 80!” And she did. We moved in one year later.

What is so special about this rental?

We originally signed a one-year lease, hoping we could purchase the Wilkerson home the following year. But, life decided otherwise as it tends to do, so we found ourselves asking Scott and Jo if we could rent another year, knowing they really wanted to sell. We were more honest with ourselves this time, acknowledging we probably wouldn’t be able to afford to buy their home the following year. They graciously arranged allowed us to rent for one more year.
Which brings me to now, one year later.
The terms of the rental agreement have us out of here by July 1st. It’s been quite a year: Grif’s diagnosis, Mike’s new job that keeps him on the road, an expanded role in my work, and Gilly’s high school graduation. Gilly also earned a scholarship to University of Florida that includes traveling overseas each summer…starting in three days. She leaves for Mexico on Father’s Day. Griffin, too, has earned some good news, landing a great job in Tallahassee while looking forward to his junior year at FSU. Change is, indeed, our constant.
Moving, however, is not on my list of things to do. Sure, I can buck up and pack up as I have done in the past, but I just don’t wanna. I’m a little tired of the whole moving thing, yet, I keep it in perspective.
It’s been nice to be settled into a home for more than one year. The traditional brick house sits in front of a public park. It has ample space for everyone and a beautiful sunroom that serves as my dining room. You can tell love was present here in the Wilkerson era. Frank’s art and craft studio still bears hooks that he painstakingly hung for his supplies. There’s a large addition that once served as a central gathering place for teenagers and a pool table that I’ve converted to my study.  Jo had a real eye for design and it shows throughout the home. The dark wood-paneled living room is warm and inviting with paned windows toward the park. Frank loved collecting horse shoes. I placed one on a side table next to the window in memory of a dear man and in honor of a special family.
We’ve settled in nicely.
So it’s hard to think about leaving. Several unknowns remain in my life, one of them being where we will live next.
But, a beautiful thing happened recently.
Scott and Jo offered to let us stay for one more year. They could easily have put this house on the market. Things are turning around for real estate sales, something Scott knows well since he is in the business. Yet, they chose us and we are so very grateful. Scott has always been a good friend from Kindergarten to high school to now. Who knew the boy sitting next to me in ninth grade geometry would play such a pivotal role in my life? (Note to high schoolers: be nice to your classmates.) Who knew the mom whom everyone loved in our community would extend her maternal love across a few states to a family in Florida who needed it most?

Where Do We Go From Here?

Before I know it, a year will pass. This week I saw a sign in a store – “I try to take things one day at a time, but, lately, all my days are coming to me at once.” I can relate. Those days come fast and hard sometimes. But, today, I am sitting on my couch in Jo’s beautiful living room facing the park where a dad and his little girl are playing on a swing set.
And I am home.

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