DAYS AFTER

DAY 1-Monday

Answer Machine: Hello. You have reached Marcie and Tom. We can’t come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message after the beep, we will get back to you as soon as possible. Have a wonderful day! BEEEEP

Me, leaving message: Hey, Mom. Just calling to say hi. I know you aren’t in right now, but figured I’d leave a message so you would know I called. By the way, I didn’t realize you still had Dad’s name on your voicemail recording. Has he been on the message this whole time? I know you miss him. Me, too. Well, I won’t change it. I’ll call again in a couple of days. Bye, mom. Love you.

DAY 3-Wednesday

Me, leaving message: Hi Mom. Listen. I’m going to start cleaning out the house this weekend. It’s gotta be done. Don’t worry, I’ll get some help. And I won’t get rid of any of your treasures. Only the things that don’t mean that much. You know, the proverbial ‘stuff’ accumulated over the years. I’m coming on Friday and leaving Sunday. See how much I can do in a few days. First, I’ll get going on the big things, like the furniture, then some of the smaller things. I can always load my car with boxes. Take them to my house to deal with at a later time. Oh, sorry, that didn’t come out right. I didn’t mean ‘deal with’ in a negative way. The photos and letters will just take time to go through, that’s all. Anyway, I’ll be there Friday. Love you. Bye for now.

DAY 5 – Friday morning

Me, leaving message: Hi Mom. I’m almost there. It seems so strange to be heading to your … I mean our, house after all that has happened. Strange, but also, familiar. It’s weird. I almost don’t want to get there - wish I could just keep driving. Er, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. My friends warned me it was too soon. But…no turning back now. I scheduled the gardening people to come tomorrow afternoon. Didn’t want the yard to be overgrown. It was always the envy of your neighbors. And your vegetable garden. No tomatoes this year, but I still want it to look ready for planting. Anyway, I’ll take care of the inside. My plan is to do whatever I can this weekend, donating as much as I can. I’m going to try and finish, but if I don’t, I’ll drive up again next weekend. No pressure. Be there soon. Love you.

DAY 5 – Friday evening

Me, leaving message: Hi Mom. Oy, what a day. I can’t say it’s easy being back here, staying in my old room. Everything looks the same, yet it feels different. I did a lot today. Emptied all the closets – clothes only. Bagged all the good stuff and drove to the church. Donated them. You’d like that. 15 large bags of clothes. But, it made me cry. Not sure why it affected me like that. I used the box outside for the clothing donation, because I didn’t want to go inside. I don’t think I could have held up if I ran into someone I knew. Better to avoid people. Also, when I got back, I started going through letters and pictures. It was too much. I put them all in boxes to deal with next week, when I’m back in my home. Anyway, I’m exhausted. Hoping I sleep tonight. Lots to deal with tomorrow. Bye, mom. Love you.

DAY 6 – Saturday morning

Me, leaving message: Morning, Mom. Busy day today, but I want to keep you updated on the progress. Yesterday, I mentioned that the gardeners were coming to take care of the outside, but don’t think I told you that the furniture people are also stopping by. They called early this morning, before I even had a chance to eat breakfast. Said they are on their way. Once they get the big pieces out, I’ll be able to really scrub the place. Nice and clean. Sigh. It’s just a house. I have to keep reminding myself. It’s just a…Oh, here they are-the furniture guys. I see their truck pulling in the driveway. Gotta go. I’ll call later. Love you. Bye, mom.

DAY 6 – Saturday evening

Me, leaving message: Hi Mom. Well, good thing I packed an air mattress. The furniture guys took everything-even the bed in my old room. And the go-kart that was in the garage – you know, the kids’ go-kart? Well, one of the guys said he has a nephew who’s eight. The perfect age. I told him to take it for his nephew. He was thrilled. And now, let me tell you, the house looks huge, being just a bunch of empty walls and floors. The bareness doesn’t bother me as much as donating the clothes did. I know it’s sad, but not one tear shed today. So I was proud of myself. And outside - I smiled after the gardeners left. The yard looks great. You’ll be happy to hear that the fig tree, your pride and joy, is set to have a bumper crop this year. So many baby figlets growing! That’ll keep the birds and the squirrels happy, at least. Well, I’m too tired to do any more heavy lifting this evening, so I’m going through a few papers, then bed. Bye, mom. Love you.

DAY 7 – Sunday morning

Me, leaving message: Hey, Mom. I decided not to leave today, to give myself another full day here. I’ve made lots of progress - I think I can finish today if I push. I got up early, 5am, and scrubbed all the bathrooms, mopped the floors, and gave the house a good overall cleaning. It smells a little like Clorox in here, but that’ll dissipate. A few open windows will help. And I put together a couple more boxes of things I want to go through when I get home. More pictures and letters. I even found a book of matches from my wedding. Nowadays, the kids wouldn’t dare do that, but back in the day…remember? Napkins, matches and the like, all imprinted with bride and groom names and the wedding date. I can’t believe you kept that! I didn’t even save a matchbook from my wedding! The rest of the small stuff I drove to the thrift store. Donated. So, it’s 9:30 in the morning and I am just about finished with what I can do. I’m going to head out to Joe’s Diner and treat myself to a nice breakfast. Sans the Clorox smell! Oh, and I called the realtor; he’s going to stop by this afternoon to give me an estimate, a couple of comps, then list the house. That part won’t be easy. But…It’s just a house. It’s just a house. Talk la…Talk la..ter, mom. Love you.

DAY 7 – Sunday evening

Me, leaving message: Me again, Mom. Paul, the realtor guy, just left. He actually took me to dinner to discuss things – seeing that I had nothing in the house to eat, or sit on. So everything is set. Paul said the house and yard looked fine; no need for me to do anything more, cleaning-wise. He’s listing the house tomorrow. Multiple listing, but he already has a couple of clients he thinks might be interested. Hopefully, we will get some quick action. Paul promised to keep me updated. If it takes a while, I might need to come back, just to check on things, but right now, I’m guessing this might be the last time I’m here. We can do the closing remotely, if I give Paul power of attorney. We’ll see. I’ll take pictures before I go. I hope to get on the road early tomorrow, so I won’t call ‘til tomorrow night. Bye mom, love you. Remember. It’s just a house. It’s just a house.

DAY 8 – Monday evening

Answer Machine: Hello. The message box for the person you are calling is full. No more messages can be received. Please try again later. BEEEEP

Me, speaking: Oh no. I just wanted to talk...hear your voice.

DAY 9 – Tuesday morning

Answer Machine: The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected. Please check the number and dial again.

Me, speaking: Good-bye, mom. Love you.

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