The Grand Finale: Our Last Garage Sale

Welcome, dear readers, to the grand finale of our 25-year stay in this wonderful house! Yes, we’ve had that last garage sale, where memories went for 50 cents and nostalgia was buy-one-get-one-free.

At this last sale, our wonderful friend’s driveway became a treasure trove of knick-knacks and doohickeys that accumulated over the years.

As we were parting with these items, I couldn’t help but remember the stories behind them. AND parting with twenty years' worth of craft supplies was like saying goodbye to a hoard of tiny, colorful enablers. Those glitter jars and fancy papers have seen me through countless Pinterest-fueled dreams and DIY disasters. As they embark on new adventures, I hope their new owners appreciate the sequins stuck in their carpets and the rogue glue gun burns.

But it’s not just about the stuff. Our house has been the launchpad for our children to set off into the world. We’ve watched them grow from toddlers to teens to young adults ready to conquer their dreams. This home has seen first schools, first dates, and first cars. It’s where homework battles were fought and won, and where we sent them off into the world with tears and pride in our eyes.

In preparation for this transition, we’ve been busy neutralizing the colors of our beloved home. The once bright and cheery kitchen, which wore a coat of sunshine yellow, is now a sophisticated Worldly Gray. The kids' rooms, which showcased a rainbow of personalities, have been tamed into calming, buyer-friendly hues of Worldy Gray and white. Even the vibrant blue accent wall in the living room that was the centerpiece of many holiday gatherings is now a serene, neutral shade of Wordly Gray (sensing a theme here?). It’s as we’ve turned our lively, memory-filled home into a blank canvas for the next family to create their masterpiece.

And let’s not forget our fantastic neighbors, who have been more like long-time friends. These are people you can count on in a pinch. They’re the ones that will watch over your house when you’re out of town (and report back any rogue parties from the teens). They’re the ones who will gladly lend you a tool, a cup of sugar, or anything else you may need in a pinch. They will be sorely missed.

As we watched our cherished belongings find new homes, we’re filled with a mix of sadness and excitement. Sadness for leaving behind a place filled with so many wonderful memories, and excitement for the new adventures that await us. We’re closing one chapter, but the book of life has many more pages to be written.

After 25 years of whispering secrets to the trees and perfecting our flower garden arrangements, it’s finally time to let the ‘For Sale’ sign do the talking. Our  yard has always been the ultimate extrovert, chatting up every passerby like it’s running for mayor. If that sign could wink, it’d be saying, “Come for the curb appeal, stay for the charm!”

So, here’s to our last garage sale – a sentimental, slightly chaotic, and very humorous farewell to a home that has been our haven for 25 years. And goodbye and thank you, dear house, for being the backdrop to our family’s story. And thank you, amazing neighbors, for making this journey unforgettable.

-Chasing 78° Life