Now cleaning and maintaining a house are a burden, and it is time to move on. The women in my family are strong, and Ann made the decision to clean out the homestead and sell the house while she still can take an active role in this transition. Many families are thrown into turmoil when a medical emergency makes it necessary to place a parent in a retirement center. Ann faced this crisis when she placed her mother in a nursing home. Ann is determined that she will never do this to her children.
Rites of passage involve letting go and moving on.
We experience grief when there is a loss involved. We would not sell this house if it wasn't for his death. His memories fill this home, and we will take these memories, and the images of a family living and growing, with us. There is a sense of camaraderie as we spend weekends going through all the closets and cabinets and moving boxes. We are fortunate to have a family that can work together through this particular transition.