New Digs - So long 454 Faversham Court

Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Bryan and I visited my parents at their new place. I was a bit nervous as I wasn't sure how I would feel once I got there. Their new place is a senior citizen retirement apartment complex. They moved in mid-July. My parents are in their 70's and I've never seen them as, gasp, old, however, I wondered would I leave their new place viewing them as such? Spoiler Alert: I didn't. I left feeling really happy for them.  They needed to downsize and move to place where they didn't have worry about all the maintenance that a house requires. They raised 6 kids and spent 38 years, I believe, in the Bolingbrook home. It was just time for a new chapter.

So, after we all had lunch my dad took me and Bryan on a tour of their building. I was all smiles. They have everything they need at their fingertips - library, canteen, game room, movie room, salon, doctor's office, convenience shop, religious room, ect. Of course, we ran into one of my dad's friends - and, I wasn't surprised. My parents are both gregarious people and make friends easily. And, their apartment is just adorable and the right size for them. I kept thinking this is PERFECT!

Bryan actually wanted to live there himself - go play scrabble in the game room, haha.

Aside from all of that and my feelings, most importantly my parents are happy and enjoy their new home. I do think it's still a bit of a shock to them.  Maybe more for my Mom -I can imagine with such a huge change some time is needed to adjust.

I left thinking of all the new chapters we will have in our lifetime. *mind blown*


So long 454 Faversham Court...
Lucky for my parents their house sold days after it went on the market. It was a cash sale and bought by a girl around my age named Erin Marie (how ironic as I always said I would love to buy my parents house, but just didn't work out - I'm a city gal).

My mom and dad

 My dad planted this big maple tree  - look at that baby now!

 So many memories in this backyard - it hosted lots of family parties (and a few when my parents were out of town, shhhh!) :-)

Two of my sisters (and their demon eyes) having a last climb in the tree. 

My sister's and me (I have 4 of them and a brother, he lives in Phoenix) spent weeks helping my parents pack and clean out the house. The last day of all of us helping as a group we decided to also have a last meal at the table. It was just us girls and my parents. No kids, no spouses or significant others. We had wine (lots) and pizza from our favorite pizza place, Papa's Pizza. We shared stories and laughed and cried tears from that laughter! It was stellar.