If you dream about a house, the rooms in the house are supposed to represent aspects of your life. Kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms…every room in your dream—how you see it, what you find in it, what you’re doing in it—may help lead to a certain amount of clarity in your conscious life.
But what about your actual house, the one where you cook your meals, take your showers, neglect to dust? What does this house represent?
Nearly three years ago, my husband, daughter, and I moved into the house I lived in from ages seven to eighteen. Just like with any other person who has had life experiences, there were things that happened in my life that I used to wish hadn’t happen. I don’t wish those things away anymore because now I get it. Everything’s got to happen the way it does so that you get what you’re supposed to get out of it.
Coming back to my childhood home has opened this metaphorical door for me. It’s the excavation of my personal history. I’m digging up my past so that I can reinterpret what happened.
There have been moments when specific memories have resurfaced and allowed me to see an event in a different light. There have also been times when just painting a wall felt as good as a bowl of warm soup.
In my house, the one where I spend my waking hours, each room represents a chance to grow.
I have two uncles who have both renovated their childhood homes. They live with their wives in the houses that they grew up in. Both of them have made dramatic improvements, tearing down walls, laying new floors, installing new kitchens and bathrooms. I haven’t talked to either about their experience, but I hope they have enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed my renovations.
February 2, 2008 at 8:19 am |
Hi Girl,
Got a LOL chuckle at your most current ramblings. Great gift, Exploit it!!
In typical uncle fashion, (any uncle who doesn’t offer advice, is failing in his preordained duties), I have some advice on your upcoming renovations. Prior to the first pile of drywall dust, the first paint tracks through an area that’s not being renovated, the first “I’ll be there on Friday” which echoes in your brain on the following Tuesday as he unloads and sets up a radial arm saw on your back porch, it is extremely important, (did I stress extremely?) that the homeowners have a heart to heart session alone together sans contractor. In this session, you must decide and designate which of you is going to be the one (and only) liason with the contractor. From that point on, only that spouse may address the contractor at any level. Any and all communication with the contractor is his/her responsibility, and the other spouse must translate his/her concerns through the official designee. It’s really not a bad idea to get an attorney or counselor involved as an intermediary should an impasse be reached.
I’m not kidding.
Have a great time with the project!!
February 2, 2008 at 8:43 am |
Thank you, Uncle D! I’m going to talk to Chris today about who should be our single point of contact. Fortunately, the other uncle is an attorney so, hopefully we have all the bases (and drywall studs) covered.