Back from the Future

The Grandmas at Shirley's house in Asheville

I didn’t want to come back.

I guess that bodes well for a future in Asheville. I didn’t kick and scream when it was time to come home, but I easily could have. My reaction to returning to Reading confirmed what I’ve thought all along, that this place is terribly depressing without George. I lived here with him and I don’t want to live here without him. It hurts.

One of Ron's home designs

Our trip was very successful. We met with the architect, Ron Brenner, from Simply Elegant Homes. I found him on the internet while searching for stock home plans, and even though he is from Minneapolis and came from across the country, he seemed to click with me and understand what I am looking for in a home. I should get some very preliminary sketches tomorrow. I’m very excited about seeing what he sends.

One of Jim's green cottages

We also met with a builder. His name is Jim Priesh, and he and his partner seemed very nice and competent. I talked to a very nice woman, Nancy Chapman, who will be helping me choose materials every step of the way. This is good, since I’ll be in Reading during most of the building process.

The Bungalow

We also spent some time talking to the man who is going to renovate the bungalow for my sister Nancy. His name is Paul Tickle, and he has the distinction of appearing in one of my all time favorite movies, The Last of the Mohicans. Yes, he knows Daniel Day! He is the only British soldier scalped by a native American in the movie, so if you want to see Paul, watch for him in the movie. He’s a nice guy and is going to do quite a lot of work on the bungalow.

Summerhouse

I’m also hoping he will be constructing a Summer House for us, if the money holds out. This will be for guests who come to visit. I hope that will be many of you.

Paul’s dad, Derick, took Cathy, Sara, Lily and me to the Biltmore house the day we saw the rainbow. He is also a lovely person, and will hopefully be teaching Lily art in Asheville. He has a website. Lily struck up quite a friendship with him and is looking forward to learning about art from him.

Lobster at the Lobster Trap in Asheville

While we were in Asheville we went to a couple of good restaurants. One was The Lobster Trap, where I had guess what? Amazing lobster! Another was Magnolia’s where I had some fried shrimp and oysters. I’ve never been so happy in my life. I haven’t had a decent oyster since I came up here. Hopefully, when some of you visit me and stay in our future Summer House, I can take you to Magnolia for shrimp and oysters. You can see why I’m excited.

Yes, I'm tired!

The trip was long and tiring, and it was awful being in Shirley’s house without George. We had a couple of really key experiences in Asheville early in our relationship and I miss him so much there it hurts. I couldn’t help but remember wonderful times we had there, like a fantastic weekend we spent there early on when we got back together, the time we climbed Mount Pisgah, and the time we drove around and I thought I saw a bear (a particularly large chow) and mountain cat (big house cat.) George never let me forget that.

But, even though it was painful, it was exciting thinking about Lily playing in George’s pasture and going to the school where Shirley taught for years. I concentrated on that, and tried to ignore the giant picture of moustached George that greeted me each morning (my least favorite George look.)

This was the first time since Lily was born, except for five days when George was in the hospital, that I have been away from her. It was hard on her and on Sara. She’s acting up, trying to get control of things, and I know how she feels. We’re working on getting her a therapist for her behavior, and one for her grief. She misses him, poor baby.

Mom and me on the road

So we are back here, and back on a regular schedule after I slept all day yesterday. I go back the second week in February. I’ll be picking out things with the designer and getting the final price on things nailed down. I think I’ll fly this time, though. The drive just about killed me.

Now its time to buckle down and face getting rid of everything that we don’t want to take with us to Asheville. Sara and I will be working on this for the next few months. I have to buy new furniture, too, and that’s a little anxiety producing, due to the cost. But I should be able to figure it out. Looking for deals on the internet.

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I’ll be posting about our Christmas and how we get through without George. Feeling really anxious about it, but I know I’ll be okay. Just not looking forward to Christmas morning without him. Never thought I’d have to face that so soon. Thanks to all of you who bolster us up. We need it and we appreciate it. And Merry Christmas to everyone, too.

Related posts:

1. The Building Begins
2. Swan Dive
3. We Sure Did Laugh
4. Reality Bites
5. Gone Daddy Gone

Tagged as: architect, Asheville, christmas, george maddox, grief, lily maddox, lisa maddox, NC, new house, reading pa, SARA BYRD, single parent