Saying Goodbye to Banner Drive

In many ways, Christy & Keoki (Blake's parents) have been our best friends here in San Jose, and their home on Banner has been our second home.  In fact, we lived with them for a year right after college until we saved up enough to buy our condo.  But even after that we would go over to their house several times a week - never less than once a week for Sunday dinner.  We would go when our upstairs condo was too hot - for BBQ dinner and dips in the pool.  We would go sometimes just for Christy's extravagant Saturday morning breakfasts.   We would host parties and dinners - I can count on one hand the parties/dinners we have NOT held at the their home on one hand.  We'd go on walks, work on projects, music, movies, you-name-it.  Claire's room was the one with the red bed.  She called it, "my red room with the shells" (not sure where the shell thing came from).  I had a spot where I always dropped my purse & shoes & misc belongings.  I knew the kitchen as well as my own. 

Yesterday they drove away with their 24' moving truck PACKED tight.  They are retiring out-of-state.   We are really sad to be separated from our good friends, our kids' Grammy & Papa, but at the same time we know that the move is right for them and so glad that they will be with everyone else in the family, and we know that we'll be seeing them regularly.

But the house is another story.  There's going to be another family - ironically, a young family with a daughter about Claire's age and a baby boy who will have their grandparents living with them.  We won't be regulars in the house any more.  I think we're mourning the loss of the house.  And I'm just the daughter-in-law.  That's the house where Blake and his siblings were raised for 25 years.  I'm sure it's harder for him and them than me.

The night we said goodbye for now to Grammy & Papa we had been next door having a bite of dinner at 9:30 at night after packing all day and the kids were melting down.  I didn't get my last longing look at the house and I didn't get to formally explain to Claire that the move was now.  I knew the termite tent would be on by 2PM the next day so we ate lunch and ran over at 12:20 PM to say goodbye to the house.  The tent was already on.  Claire and I were pretty sad.  We parked across the street and stayed in the car.  Claire said "Goodbye house.  I hope you have a happy..." (she couldn't think of a good word here so she then said, " I hope you have a nice family living there."  Good job sweetheart.  That's a great way to look at the situation.  So in my attempt for some closure, I've gone through some pictures to post here.

Anson's 1 year old birthday party in the backyard, where we also had our wedding reception in 2002.  

Below that, both of my baby showers were there.  We've had so many friends join us so many times - Can you see Beth and Dee, Penny, Kim...?

 

 We'll miss lazy Sunday afternoons, especially while Daddy & Grammy were off talking about music for Zion or at rehearsals.

We all love playing Grammy's grand piano.  Blake.  Me.  Even Claire & Anson enjoy banging on the keys.  We'll need to find another piano to get our piano fixes.

So, Goodbye Banner Drive.  We've loved our moments, our years there.  We hope you have a nice new family, too.