I was living with my family in Pinellas Park Florida. My mom and dad and my sister. My brothers had married and moved away. We were renting the house, and it wasn’t great.
As moves go, it wasn’t terrible
Not too long after my mom died, the owners of the house next door placed their home on the market. It was a bigger house and a lot nicer. My dad jumped at the opportunity. It wasn’t a hard move. We didn’t need a truck. We picked up our stuff and carried it next door.
Our new house had three bedrooms and a Florida room. The Florida room was where my dad had his TV and computer. It’s also where he kept the huge bags of peanuts and sunflower seeds. In no time at all our backyard was full of tame and fat squirrels.
The squirrels were almost part of the family
The little rodents would be waiting at the sliding glass doors of the Florida room every morning. They weren’t afraid of the cat or Barney our Doberman. Some of the squirrels would be bold enough to come into the Florida room and take the peanuts from our hands.
When it wasn’t too hot, my dad, uncle, and I would sit outside. I would be smoking a huge cigar. My dad and uncle would be smoking cigarettes. One of the squirrels would sit on my dad’s lap eating peanuts and letting him pet her.
It would be so peaceful, I loved those mornings in our backyard
I would sit outside in the mornings and listen to the birds and the squirrels. With my cat Midnight. He never liked to be outside in the daylight. He was a black cat and nocturnal, but he would come outside in the mornings to be with me.
My dad passed away in 2006. I had to have the will probated and I sold the house per his instructions. I went through some trials and I had to deal with a lot of pain. I’m happy and married now. I wouldn’t trade my life for anything.
I still miss my dad and uncle and our house
I still think about that house. The warmth and companionship I had with my uncle and my dad. I miss the backyard and the squirrels. Things were simpler for me back then.
The only bills I had were my car payments and insurance. My dad had me pay him eighty dollars a week for rent and he didn’t care if I had beer in the house. I did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I’m married now, so that’s all in the past.
I miss not having to choke on marijuana smoke, and I miss having quiet neighbors
I think about the house in Florida. When me and my wife are choking on the fumes of marijuana smoke from our neighbors. I think about the chirping birds and squirrels when the neighbor lady is hurling f-bombs. I feel sorry for her kids having to grow up around that filth.
I thought about the house in Florida the night I heard the gunshot and when I saw the trail of blood the next morning. I can’t complain too much, at least I’m not homeless anymore.
I’m grateful to have a roof over my head
My life has had ups and downs, but I have a good life now. I have a roof over my head and a wife I love. I don’t want to re-live the past but I still miss my dad and uncle and I miss our home.
Final Thought:
We have to go through life changes, We can’t avoid them and we shouldn’t try. The changes we go through may be hard at first, but we might be in a better place on the other side. Whenever I get sad about what I lost in Florida I think about the squirrels in the backyard and smile.
Hold on to the good memories be grateful, and smile when you think about the squirrels. The bad times will pass.
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