Saying Good-bye to the "Dear Old House That I Grew Up In"
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 3:26PM 
My parent's moved out of the house that I spent most of my childhood in and my sister and I went back for one last visit before they sold it. I photographed the details that I didn't want to forget, the empty rooms and the doorknobs that I've spent 30 years looking at. I pulled up the carpet in my old room and added one last note, "You were a character in my life." It was a spot I had written on before, when I was younger. I wonder who will find it. There were quite a few places that had evidence of our family. The basement wall that we drew on before it was covered in panelling, the footprints in the cement, the wear and tear of a well lived life and a few hidden time capsules that we will never see again. We impressed ourselves on that house as much as it impressed on us. I'll miss it, but I hope the new owners will love it as much as I did. (Scroll down for a video and song lyrics for Dear Old House That I Grew Up In by Amanda Palmer.)
Have your parents also moved out of the home that you grew up in? How did you feel when they left? Do you go back to visit?
And now, a new and timely song from Amanda Palmer about how SHE felt when her parents sold the house she grew up in. Skip ahead to 2:30 if you want to get right to the song and skip the explanation.
Lyrics to Dear Old House That I Grew Up In by Amanda Palmer
dear old house that i grew up in
i know they're gonna leave you any day
dear old house that i grew up in
can't you find a way to make them stay
and while the girls i went to school with
went downtown with all the cool kids
i was staked out in your cellar
making friends with dead umbrellas
and the creeks of every floorboard
tell the story of the girl i stuck inside
and if they move away
i'll have no place to hide
dear old house that i grew up in
i have never really been in love
you took my heart when i was a child
and your noises wrapped around my little body
like a winterglove
you're just a random set of objects
in a town that's full of sadness
in the armpit of the world
your cut downtrees and lousy soil
and if i wanted to i'd keep you
and i'd fill you up and heat you
with the market how it is, amanda
well you know the price of oil
goodnight stairs and goodnight stars
on painted bedroom walls
attic door and banister
i'll miss you most of all
i was s'posed to keep you safe
this wasn't supposed to end
does it sound ridiculous
to call you my best friend
dear old house that i grew up in
i know i haven't visited that much
but every lifeless hotel and appartment i walk into
just reminds me of the doorknobs that i want to touch
and i won't miss you when they sell you
to some evil yuppie couple
with a child who'll put miley cyrus
posters in my bedroom
i am a native of the globe
i am a rockstar on the road
i am now centrally located
anywhere that i am known
but it doesn't feel like anywhere
when you can't go back home
dear old house i grew up in
i know it's not your fault that this went down
please don't take it personally
love, amanda
ps tell the evil yuppie couple
when i'm rich, i'll buy them out
Amanda Palmer in Canada, Family, Nostalgia
Reader Comments (7)
Holy cow! What a beautiful old house. I love all the pictures of the doorknobs and woodwork!! So pretty. I still remember my parents house that I lived in until I was 6 on Staten Island. My bedroom had a crystal door knob... and the walls were the perfect color pink. I loved that damn door knob.... so guess what I did? I went and searched for a door knob just like that one and found it! Its on my girls bedroom door ! XOXOX
I have a handful of memories around this house too, especially as a kid, which makes it a bit sad to know that they've truly become locked in history now. Your pictures a great too, they really show the character of the house.
I had a really hard time when my parents sold the house I grew up in. My grandparents built it and my dad grew up in it. I still dream about it all the time. My brother lives next door to it now, and knows the guy who owns it, so I'm hoping to go inside again sometime...especially because the area around it slated for industrial development, so it'll probably be torn down someday.
Speaking of which.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpf8z2HFbBA
I grew up in that house too! Beautiful post and photos Leslie!
Kathleen, that's awesome about finding the same doorknob. That's exactly why I wanted to take pictures, to have a reminder of it.
Luke and Marni - I forget that other people, like you guys, have memories of that place too. And Luke, I love what you said about the memories being permanently locked in history.
I dream about my Grandma's old place too, and I'm sure I will dream about this place as well. I hope you'll get to visit your old house again soon. That song you linked to is so sad! xo
Glad to know I am not the only one who treasures their old home! Love the pictures! I was 12 when we left and I so wish I could have captured memories like this. Cherish them well!
http://thedearies.blogspot.com/2011/02/30-day-photo-challenge-day-5-picture-of.html
Leslie, you photos are beautiful as always. I have many fond memories of your parents house, especially all the fun times we had playing in the attic, which I see you got a photo of the top of the stairs. I too hope that some one finds that house as special as you and your family did!