Reinvent

Written for https://fivedotoh.com/2023/06/23/fandangos-flashback-friday-june-23rd/

This is my post from June last year.

1. If you could reinvent yourself, how would you like to be? I like who I am; mostly. I would prefer to be more confident. When I am around strangers, I find saying the right things difficult. I look at my daughter, who is not afraid of what she says, and I am so proud. My son, who is autistic, will speak to others with more confidence than I do.
2. Would you like to be a pet in your household? Oh yeah, food, exercising, and lots of fuss. What’s not to love?
3. How many house moves have you had as an adult? I occupied six houses since I got married. The first was a new building with two small bedrooms. The second move was to an area that potentially would have been more pleasant. We had great neighbors (apart from the building opposite). One, an older couple would talk with me, my husband and my kids. They said mine were polite and the only children allowed to do trick or treating. A young couple would mow my lawn when I forgot, and fed my cat ‘’Chelsea’’ when they had a barbecue. They also placed a blanket on a bench to ensure her comfortable sleep. My last is further away from my family than I would like. It was the sole method I had to be close to my children and experience the security of owning a property, free from a mortgage.
4. What was your favourite home? It has to be where I grew up. There are a lot of experiences there. I brought some blue flowers in a plastic cup for them to invade the entire garden. To a tiny boat shaped hole in the back lawn, a swing, my rabbit ‘’Snowy’’. Next door had a beautiful rosebush, which comforted Dad when he was ill. It was an extensive space, where Candy, my tortoiseshell tabby, scared an Alsatian. He barked at her, and she raised her heckles and hissed. He ran all the way inside. My dad, sitting in his red chair, and listening to his stories. My mum making the stew I loved. Watching ‘’Starsky and Hutch’’ and ‘’Charlie Chan, Miss Marple, and Sherlock Holmes’’.

I am thankful for never experiencing homelessness. My parents, as well as my extended family, have a deep sense of being loved. I feel incredibly fortunate to possess such meaningful memories.