Travel Notes: A Home and Postscript

I went back for a visit to our house in Auckland yesterday. The last time I glanced back thru the front door, the beautiful dark kauri would floors wished me well. It was the sort of house that spoke to you...it was happy to share it's love. I looked for the familiar greeting as I opened the door yesterday and I could see it has moved on. It is filled with toys and laughter and I was happy for that.
I sat on the front porch while others milled about, sizing it up, thinking if it would work for them.  We are renting the house and someone is interested in buying it. In and out, people fluttering all around. I sat in my favourite spot on the front porch looking at this urn. I love this urn, I love the garden we designed around it. 
All the while, they continued passing around me and I sat there thinking that they are missing the point. If you love a house you can make it work. The house is 100 years old...it will not give you the conveniences of a brand new house. It will give you it's history, it will give you it's charm, it will provide a safe haven for your family and treasure those memories as much as you do.  

HOME

Home, you say, when day is done,

Home to comfort and peace and rest;

Home, where the children romp and run-

There is the place that you love the best!

Yet what would the home be like if you

Had all of its endless tasks to do?

Would it be home if she were not there,

Brave and gentle and fond and true?

Could you so fragrant a meal prepare?

Could you numberless duties do?

What were the home that you love so much,

Lacking her presence and gracious touch?

She is the spirit of all that's fair;

She is the home that you think you build;

She is the beauty that you dream of there;

She is the laughter with which it's filled-

She, with her love and her gentle smile,

Is all that maketh the home worth while.

Edgar A. Guest

POSTSCRIPT

Such thoughtful comments one and all! Much appreciated and I have to smile at Jackie's question about staying in my homeland. This is a common problem when you set up home in new places. After a few years, it is home and then you remember that you felt the same about the country before that and then you stop and wonder where home is! All great memories and for that I am very thankful. Our house in New Zealand will one day have a great family living in it who will add their own special touches to call it home. We are off to England soon and I look forward to that. The kids have said they are ready to go home. Mission accomplished :) 

Next week bagpipes...I can't wait to photograph men in skirts!!!

image~me