A Home Between the Walls, September 19th 2008

When I was first born, my family and I lived in a house in Colorado Springs. My two brothers were able to grow up in that house. However, I do not have any memories from living in that house for two years. When I look at its pictures, I get a familiar feeling, but I can’t recognized it or remember ever living there. After I turned two, my family decided to move into a larger house so my parents could have more room to raise children. So, they chose to build a house in Crystal Hills in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

This is an early memory that I have. I remember watching the progress as it was being built by my father. Fifteen years ago, there weren’t as many houses in Crystal Hills as there are now. Many lots next to ours were empty, while they are full now with beautiful homes. Though I didn’t know at the time that this place was going to be our new home, I was still very excited. During the whole construction process, we stayed in a smaller house that my parents rented, though I can’t remember it at all. Once the house started to be built, we were able to visit it more and more.

My most vivid dream occurred one day when the entire family went over to the construction site to help. My dad used to drive this very old, ugly, and hardly durable pickup truck. I was sitting in the front seat, and we were driving through Crystal Hills. We finally reached the lot where the house was being built. The lawn was still all dirt and they were still framing the house. Rather than parking on the street, my dad drove onto the lawn, and it was a bumpy ride. This surprised me, so I started to cry. After I calmed down for a little bit, my dad let me play around in the dirt while he talked to his contractors. At this time I still had no idea that this would be our new house. I was also confused as to why there was no grass and only dirt, but I don’t think I was too upset. While I was playing, my mother was inside figuring out some interior decorating ideas, and I believe my brothers were sitting in the truck listening to the radio.

My dad then took me inside the “house,” which was only the framing. Still, it was really cool to walk through these fake doors and look at all the huge rooms. I could see where our fireplace would be, and most exciting, where the kitchen would be. This house was like a mansion to me, and I couldn’t wait for it to be finished so that we could move into it. Then, my dad showed me where my room would be. It was larger than what I even dreamed up. I walked around, able to do laps it was so large. He then took me to this framed box underneath a window. He told me that it would be my own toy box, without having to share with my brothers. My happiness and innocence in life seemed to emanate at that moment. I got this feeling inside me that this would be my one special place where I could play and have a fun time. Then I remember him telling me that it was going to be painted pink and that I would have teddy bear wallpaper. This made me happy because my nickname since birth was Claire Bear.

What I also remember really well about this experience is how simple and wonderful it was. This new and large house became a new adventure for me to journey with my brothers. That day, we played hide-and-go-seek in the basement, hiding behind toolboxes and large wood pieces. Though we didn’t know it at the time, that basement would become a very good place to play pretend. Everything seemed so perfect that day. I spent my time in my new room, imagining all the amazing things I could do with it. It’s hard to say how long we spent there that day, but it seemed like it was forever and that it would never end.

The one thing that is fuzzy in my mind is my first few years living at that house. I think it’s because I was so overwhelmed with many really good memories. However, the first day I was actually able to see what our new house would look like has stayed with me even to this day. I can still smell the sawdust from the workers in the basement. The dirt that I played with was just right: it wasn’t too wet to get muddy, but it was damp enough to create things with it. Then, when my brothers and I played hide-and-go-seek, I almost remember hiding in the closet in my room, feeling safe and knowing that my brothers would never be able to find me in there. This memory is not just my first memory; it is also a very important one in my life. When my family moved into that house, we became closer. My brothers and I had more space to explore, and my parents had more space to raise us in. I’m happy that my first memory is of the first day I saw the new house; hopefully, it will stay with me forever.