I stand on the front porch of the dormitory that has become my home. My eyes wide with no real explanation of what I am holding. A package about the size of a shoe box. The return address was 16 Creek-side Road. I turned the box over. I shook it. When I turned the box right side up the address was still there. 16 Creek-side Road. Part of me thought this was some kind of joke that someone who was very cruel would play on me. How could anyone know? For that matter I wondered who would care. I was very upset and yet somehow calm.
16 Creek-side Road. The only place I ever wanted to go as a kid. That is where my whole family would meet for Christmas. The house James and I almost burned down, shooting bottle rockets up the chimney. We lit the chimney on fire. We were lucky the fire burned out before the fire department even came, boy, did they come. In the firetruck with all of the lights and sirens on. I deserved that ass whooping. I earned every single one I ever got at that house.
It can be funny the memories you hold dear. Starting a tractor and realizing you have no idea how to shift it into gear. We could not find the clutch for the life of us. Shooting out the sliding glass door with my BB gun the same day I got it. That was a fun one. I had that BB gun for about three total hours before I got it taken away for good. I think I only shot it maybe twenty times. It came with the huge jar of 500 copper BB’s. That was just a waste. We could not hit the target, but my grandmother still found glass years after.
Those were the best days of my life spending those few summers and Christmases on that farm, where my father and his sister grew up. Over time most of my family stopped talking. A promised in inheritance was never delivered and it really destroyed the relationship between what little family I value. I am happy I am at state to get away from all of that. I needed the break.
16 Creek-side Road no longer stands. The house was torn down over six years ago. That old house was unlivable by the end. Living beyond your means will break your relationship before it ever breaks your bank.
Now that I think the first thing I thought of was the good memories, not the bad that came along with them. When I think about my own parents’ divorce my aunt is who helped me. I am now my own adult, I think I am looking at this all wrong. I can contact who I want to in my family. The truth is they would probably love to hear that I am a chemistry major at state. I don’t think they would shun that news. I think James has two sons now.
16 Creek-side drive. You waste your focus on the bad. When I saw this address the truth is all I could think about was good. I did not think about the bad until later. I am willing to bet my aunt sent this box. I am also, to be it is full of letters and pictures. Again: science major.
I want to call my aunt before I open this box. I want to remember good over time, not bad. We all walk around staring at a phone, but we don’t use them to call each other. I remember her number without looking and I am willing to bet it has not changed. I do not want to put this off all day; I would rather just call her.
Never give up on life. Never give up on love
That’s it, that’s all:
-Nathan Hall