Storytelling

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Dear Jack: It All Worked Out to Move Here to Alabama

13 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced you and Mommy to one of my favorite movies of all time: Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks.

The opening and final scene, showing his character at a literal crossroads, has always been powerful for me.

Looking back on our family’s version of 2024, I can see how that scene is specifically relevant for us.

I will never forget the moment we were driving back from Alabama to Tennessee during the Summer of 2023 and out of nowhere, you blurted out in the car:

“I wish we just lived in Alabama.”

Here we are, a little over a year later and your wish came true.

To think, as a family, we left behind our former lives in Tennessee. And now, it seems so long ago when that was our life.

We’ve only lived in Alabama for a little over 100 days, but it is almost laughable how there is absolutely zero hesitation about our move.

It was our family’s decision, based on what you said. Had you not said it, I don’t know that we’d be here in Alabama now.

This week, I had the confirming thought: “It worked.”

We left our lives behind in Tennessee and started over. Specifically, you and your sister left behind your school and friends.

And everything is fine. It worked out.

In fact, we’re all undeniably happier here. So I suppose we have you to thank for blurting that out in the car last summer:

“I wish we just lived in Alabama.”

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: What It’s Like Watching You Play Football

13 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

Last weekend, we drove to Gadsden and Scottsboro on a search to find you some more clothes for school. Silly me- I had expectations of spending decent money on a preppy new wardrobe for you, consisting of polo shirts and nice jeans.

Nope.

While you did snag a couple of vague t-shirts from American Eagle, you were much more interested in an urban-themed store called Snipes.

You spent most of your time shopping there. After much consideration, you chose a NASCAR t-shirt as well as one with Tupac that says, “Keep Ya Head Up”.

And I suppose that phrase is what I will have to keep reminding myself at each of your football games.

I’m sure, as your dad, I’m supposed to be more like, “That’s my boy out there! Number 37!”

Instead, the real game going on in my head is this:

I just celebrate each completed quarter that you don’t get injured.

Therefore, your team “won” the game this week; despite what the scoreboard said.

I’m keeping my head up- and so are you!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Cheering On Your Brother at His Football Game

8 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

To support your brother at his football game this week, you and your cousin wore matching cheerleader outfits to the event.

This was actually the first football game you have ever been to in your life- now that I think of it.

You seemed to have a good time there.

And that’s good- because we’re all going to be spending the next two months watching your brother play football at his games.

You definitely liked the part about Mommy giving you some money to spend on concessions. You came back with a Coca-Cola.

Fortunately, despite the caffeine so close to bedtime, you had no trouble falling asleep.

And I love the drawing you brought home from school this week. In your opinion, Fort Payne will win the football games because A) your brother is playing on the team, and B) there are lots of good cheerleaders.

You truly support your brother and his team!

Love,

Daddy

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The Renovations are Now Completed on Our Alabama Home

Fact #1: Moving your family to another state is stressful.

Fact #2: Remodeling a house is stressful.

Fact #3: Trying to do those two things while keeping the budget as low as possible is stressful.

I feel like Andy Bernard in The Office when he declared, “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life. I haven’t had a very hard life.”

As of today, Labor Day 2024, we have now lived in Alabama for 100 days; which is how long it took living here for our home renovations to finally be considered “complete”.

I can feel it. I feel the relief, as well as the amazing sense of accomplishment, that as a family, we collectively remodeled the 28 year-old house we bought, and just as my wife aspired it to be:

“Like a cute farmhouse”.

Right now I’m thinking of a certain scene from the movie, “Meet the Parents”…

Well that’s how I feel about shiplap.

It is official:

Anything in our home that could be “shiplapped”, has been now been shiplapped.

Our kitchen ceiling. Our master bathroom ceiling. The kids’ bathroom wall.

I’m also now in on a home renovation secret: Not only does nailing up boards make them look “like a cute farmhouse”, but they also are probably covering up something not so cute and farmhousey behind them.

There is no question: This entire process has been a complete family effort. And when I say “family”, I mean my parents, as well as my sister’s family.

It took all took of us working and sacrificing most of this year to get where we are now.

We spent spring break this year basically gutting the house; taking out the cabinets and the ripping up the floors ourselves, to prepare the contractors to install the new ones.

Once all that was completed, then we had to build new door frames and baseboards.

Even as I’m describing it, I feel a little guilty using the word “we”, when I was simply the assistant. Without my family, I would have no idea what to do!

So yeah, I guess it’s important to realize that this entire process had indeed been stressful. However, I am now living inside the reward.

For me, it’s much more that my wife’s vision of making this home beautiful.

What has been my inspiration has been to set up a warm and welcoming home environment to raise my family and to welcome guests.

I love that our home is one story and has an open lay-out. I feel like our family is closer because of it.

While there while always be some kind of upcoming renovation on our home, our family can now live in the reality that a new level has been unlocked:

Cute farmhouse.

 

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Dear Holly: Your Microwavable Warmies Baby Doll

8 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

I’m familiar with the phrase, “Nobody puts baby in a corner!”

Based on your new Warmies baby doll, what I wish I could say is, “Nobody puts baby in a microwave!”

When we went on our summer family vacation last month to Oregon, you discovered a Warmies baby doll in one of the shops.

Though you already had a few of the Warmies stuffed animals, you insisted that you had to have the baby doll version.

I must say, “Gracie” has certainly been well taken care of ever since you got her.

But I still feel weird putting her in the microwave!

Love,

Daddy