CHAPTER 6
PREVENTING HOMESICKNESS
This is better known as my “wallpaper” story.
Wallpapering is my “winter sport”; it calms my soul and improves my outlook. Wallpapering to me is a physical exercise, a mental challenge and is great entertainment. Obviously, I am “wrapped up in” wallpaper and the following story unfolds.
In October 1990, Bill and I flew from Hartford to North Carolina for a long weekend to find a place to live. We anticipated moving from Connecticut to Burlington around Thanksgiving and we wanted to find a Realtor who would a) find us a house to rent and b) help us find a reputable contractor so we could eventually build a NEW house. After living in older homes (circa 1830) I was anxious to live with lots of light and sunshine and an open floor plan. We also wanted to wait for the closing in Connecticut house before making any big commitments. We agreed to not own 2 houses at once!
We are novices at house hunting (or rental looking) but we told the Realtor we wanted a one floor, simple place. Our Realtor, Patti, was quick to find what we needed- a brink ranch on Gurney Street with a fenced in yard for our dog, Lady- and a reasonable monthly rent. All was agreed upon and we returned to Connecticut satisfied with our decisions and Bill and I proceeded to order the moving van and make necessary arrangements.
Two weeks before the moving van arrived, we received a phone call from Patti with “bad news” and “good news”. The bad news was: the little ranch (`1600 sq. ft) on Gurney Street was not available as we had planned but the GOOD news is: I’ve found another place for you to rent for the same price!” Well, what could we say? She explained that it had a first floor bedroom and bath, was a newer house (in the Country Club section- her idea, not ours), had a fenced in yard and was 3500 sq. ft! I couldn’t imagine THAT much space; especially since we were in the process of getting rid of so much of our “tired” furniture. So, we trusted her judgment and said OK.
This type of decision was very unusual for us; our reputation was one of organization and planning. Just imagine packing up everything you own, sending off the moving van and driving 750 miles to a house you have never SEEN. I felt as if I were in a Conestoga wagon going west; I had no idea what this house looked like, inside or out.
Patti was enthusiastic and couldn’t wait to give us the keys and show us through the house. I surprise myself to remember that I wasn’t particularly crazy about listening to a “Realtor’s sales tour”- we were travel weary and just wanted to settle in. The house really wasn’t for sale, but I could tell our Realtor liked the house so much- SHE enjoyed walking us around and through.
It was really a very big house (for the 2 of us and our dog, Lady) and in a very classy section of town. We ascended the huge foyer staircase to view the master bedroom and no one was more surprised that I was to see the wallpaper was EXACTLY the same as the paper I recently put up in our house in Hebron! I commented immediately about this coincidence and Patti said that she “must have good taste” (to be able to select a place for us that so well matched our taste in décor). Of course Patti had NEVER seen our Connecticut home. Obviously, our bedspread matched perfectly!!
As I reflect on this, I figure the ANGELS didn’t want me to be homesick when I awoke each morning:
……and I wasn’t.
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