Having a Home

I am visiting Donna's family in Farmington, Minnesota. Joe has taken a buyout from Northwest Airlines, so consequently they are trying to sell their house. The phone rings. We have five minutes before potential buyers will arrive. Donna and I search for Joe and Hunter. Melissa swats flies. We all frantically clean. Five minutes does a lot for the appearance of the house. When a house is on the market, you do not own a home.

Though my house sold in January, I now have many homes. The guesthouses, hostels and hotels of Asia are accommodating. Motel Six, the Walmart of hotel chains offers consistent product in the United States. Relatives I visit on the east coast, such as my aunt, Bev, and cousin, Laurie, take care of me so well, that anyone would feel guilty after a day or two. John and Dad, both lonely from widowerhood, both offer their houses in Iowa. Other relatives and friends have offered to put me up.

Donna and Joe provide a garage door opener that I use when I visit them most days. My new constant companion, Monica, whom I have known for seven years, but have only really gotten to know over the past two months, provides more than just a key to her house.

I enjoyed owning houses. I have homes now.