Thursday, February 9, 2012

A Door By Any Other Name Is Still A Door

Today's prompt for the February photo challenge is -'front door'. I need to tell you we've had more than a few. I know a lot of people who've lived in the same house all their married lives but we are not those people. We've opened many doors to many houses we learned to call home. A door is just a door. It's what's behind the door that's home.

Door Number 1...this door opened to newly wedded married life.


Our first together home.
Just us.

An ugly couch and a TV sitting on a wooden crate. Behind this door we learned to manage our money, our time, and our expectations. We learned to make plans.

Opportunity knocked on this door and led us to Door Number 2. A rented townhouse while we figured out which end was up in a brand new city.

We did.
Door Number 3...our first 'house'.


Kids signing papers for what felt like gobs of money. A messy back garden transformed into a small slice of paradise. Fun neighbors. Time for some grown up furniture.

A baby on the way meant a whole new kind of bliss.
We learned to make room for more love.

We carried that with us to Door Number 4...another house.


Far from our roots. A door behind which just-us became just-us-three. Better than bliss. It was here we learned how to love in 3-D.

We struggled to find Door Number 5.


Insane real estate markets in Northern NJ. Always. Especially in the late 1980s. Interest rates above 10%. Add to that a crazy commute.

Then. A ray of sunshine.


Just-us-three became a family of four. Complete behind this door. We learned the well of love never runs dry.

We welcomed a move.


Door Number 6...breezes off the Bay. Crab feasts and water skis. Ballet and music. Kids on the backyard swing. Home. Let's never leave. This is bliss.

Behind this door we learned about growing pains and bedtime prayers. How to pick a crab and ride a bike. How to grow up girls.


Behind this door we discovered the current of life can flow suddenly fast round an unexpected bend. We learned its best to grab an inner tube and hang on for the ride. We learned to never say never.

Which brings me to Door Number 7...the one where adventure called our name.


We walked thru this door and never looked back. It was the door that led us inside to a whole new outside. The door to a world of people and places and opportunity we had never considered. It was behind this door a family grew rock solid together in the game of life. Cemented. We learned to stamp all that is behind this door onto our hearts.


We left door Number 7 open just a crack.
We like to look behind it now and again.
But we walked on through Door Number 8.


Behind this door is an empty nest. Just us. Still learning. Like a long time ago only different. Behind this door are full hearts. And our tapestry of door upon door.

22 comments:

  1. What an awesome post....and so thought provoking. I may have to do a Project 365 week on doors. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow ... so interesting and thought-provoking. Thanks for taking us along on your trip to the doors in your life.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a neat post. What beautiful homes you've lived in but Door #3 is my favorite. Love the color and the feel of that one. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I so enjoyed your journey through the doors. Have a good day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This was a great post, Joyce. I love how you told your story of doors. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is a lot of moving boxes to deal with! :) Your post was lovely. A nice reflection of your homes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That prompt was made for you. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LOVE this post! "Like a long time ago, only different." Oh how I relate to that...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful journey! Thanks so much for sharing your journey through the doors of your life with us! Many blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great post about all those doors. So how did you take that first one as newlyweds? And how did you know that so many years later you would need it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think this may be one of my favorite posts that you've written! I love the way you showed photos of each home (or door) and how you took us through your life's phases. So many moves, but so many fond memories! (Kathy)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fantastic post, Joyce. Looking back with love, at each door you called your own.Eventually the girls will be back with husbands and grand-babies and that quiet hour will be full again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a great walk through your life of many doors.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love it you always have a wonderful story to share! It's amazing all the doors and houses always lead to a home!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a journey to travel. Loved reading this post.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love all your doors but #3 I am in love with and #7 would be so much fun!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Awesome post! I love your history of doors!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great post! Love your spin on all the doors you've had!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your post made me cry... I don't know if it was hormones or the fact that I have a wedding in 4 1/2 months... Probably both...

    ReplyDelete
  20. A great post. Speaking of interest rates, I was selling Chevrolet automobiles in 1980 and I distinctly remember selling a truck, and his interest rate was 21%. Is that insane or what? When my house note was $145.00 per month, I had friends paying over $800.00.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Just catching up with you. Great post and I love the picture of you and your hubby coming through the door. Who knew that that would have been the beginning of such a big adventure!

    ReplyDelete