A FAMILY HOME TO AN EMPTY HOUSE, BRINGS STARK REALITY.

     So often the entry mat gets left behind; "GOD BLESS THIS HOME!" One of the things so often left behind when I used to repair abandoned repossessed homes for the Banks and Mortgage Companies.
     The footprints, the little finger smears, the left over signs of occupants also left behind. Children and often times broken families, gone but leaving signs behind of being there, but not anymore. The spirits seem to remain but the family is gone. The most touching are the scenes of discarded, forgotten toys left behind, that you know some child once held dear and would have been treasured memories while continuing to grow up if taken with them. But now, not to be!
     Sometimes the left over remains of the Christmas tree with icicles carelessly disheveled on it. (I've always felt that the warm glow of a lighted, decorated tree was so comforting, but dark and missing the spirit when it's quiet and unlit.) A reminder that, at least, there was a happy, peaceful moment enjoyed by all.
     There was sometimes furniture abandoned, when folks know that because of financial shortages for one reason or another, they've encroaching on the allowed time the lenders have given them to vacate. Hastening out when the final eviction notice is starkly taped silently to the door. Disappearing quickly, when it says they are no longer owners of what they once referred to as theirs. They naturally believe they aren't wanted or needed anymore. The nasty part of Capitalism is telling them to vamoose!
     And then there's the children, not comprehending or understanding what's going on and the feeling of insecurity that comes along with it. (How do they explain it to the other kids at school that they're often times required to say goodbye to??) The loss of a Parent, although loved by both, they're losing one due to a 'too often' marriage break-up.
     You can see it all in the debris left behind, and it hits you in the heart to think of it. (When I got out of the business, I was relieved in the sense I didn't have to see it anymore.)
     At times, I tried to contact the family to let them know it was okay to come back and get the rest of their belongings without fear of consequence, but failed most of the time due to the shame of having been forced to leave. For monetary reasons, they don't wish to be found. They also had the fear of being looked at as someone inferior to the friends and neighbors they knew and sometimes loved.
     It was one sad scene after the other, I guess for the financier as well, but in a much less emotional sense. Although it's not over for either one, for the family, it's an emotional rollercoaster and another mountain ahead for them to climb for all of them. God bless the end result on their behalf! Just sayin'.