Be it ever so jumble ...
I've been gnawing at this throughout the afternoon and had to write it out. Looking back, it amazes me that my childhood was spent entirely in one residence, one little house. For 16 years my world slowly expanded from the base camp that was home. All that changed, however, with an edict and resulting ultimatum originating with my dad. How could he dare expect me, a strong young man of 16 that knew all there was to know, to knuckle under to something as silly as 'house rules' and a threat like 'follow them or make your own way?' Well, needless to say, pride and more than a fair share of pig-headedness ensured that I never returned. But I sure wish I did.
What followed was a continuous migration from one unhealthy, shabby roach palace to another until I enlisted in the military. In the blink of an eye I was married, and it seemed as though my poor wife had to move every six months. Suddenly we were out of the service but the transient lifestyle was only beginning. Oh yes, my friends; logging road miles really started in earnest.
I try to remember all of the places at which we resided, but honestly cannot. And that only involves the many places of residence while I was married to Sally. You get a glimpse of the picture if you consider the fact that our son was born in Virginia, first daughter in Colorado, and second daughter in Florida. What you don't see are all of the residences in states where we weren't busy procreating, or multiple residences in the same area. But this was nothing compared to the addresses and phone numbers I had to keep straight during the years after my marriage dissolved.
And then Irene happened, bless her. What a rock. We married, found a small place by the river, and never left. It amazes me that our marriage was spent entirely in one residence. Our world slowly expanded from the base camp that was home. By the way, did I happen to mention I have lived in this little house for 16 years?