When I was 26, I decided that my 2 year old was ready to potty train. I had just had another baby, and my toddler had just transitioned to a toddler bed from a crib. In this month, I also decided that she needed to ditch the pacifier. I tried too much at one time. Nothing worked, I was so frustrated, and we failed at all of the things I was trying to accomplish. I took a trip to the pediatrician for my infant's 1 month check up and he called me crazy! Why are you trying to do so much at one time? "Pick a battle, and fight it until it is no longer a battle. You do NOT have to do all of this at one time." Now that I had the doctor's permission to stop trying to be super mom, I stopped!
When I looked into my future in North Carolina, I should have done the same thing. One thing at a time, that is all I can do, and I shouldn't have attempted anything more. However... I bought a home. I bet most of you reading this were completely unaware that I bought a historic home, but I did. This home had years and years of history. The windows were busted and needed replacing. The front door wouldn't close and constantly swung open. The roof was falling apart. The chimney was crumbling, and the fireplace didn't work. The floors were original and so were the moldings. I could see the potential here, and I bought it.
When you restore a historic home, you have to follow many rules. It is very time consuming and expensive, but I was willing to put in the work. Little by little, I put in the TLC this home needed so desperately. I followed all of the rules, and made sure that everything was just right. Sure it was expensive, it was stressful, and it was exhausting, but I could actually see the progress.
This house was beautiful in a strange way, and I had some disbelief, at times, that I had even purchased it in the first place. Yet, I would find myself in the kitchen, replacing the sink and the countertops. I even had to bring in an electrician to bring this house to code because I wasn't able to have appliances in my kitchen due to the lack of voltage capability this home had. I had to rearrange a bathroom, which was challenging to say the least, but one thing after another was accomplished and this house was becoming a beautiful property.
I was working to restore this home because I wanted to host a party. The party wasn't for me, and it wouldn't be a housewarming party. It was more of a birthday party for someone I loved. The guest of honor had helped here and there with the renovations, and this party was really meant to celebrate a labor of love that we had done together. They didn't know how to renovate a house, and they certainly weren't equipped to do so. We argued about finishes, and about simple things during the renovation as most people probably would. I made some concessions that I didn't want too, but my heart is huge and my desire to rebuild this house was deep.
We were almost done. The renovation was complete and most of the furniture had been moved in. All that was left was to start planning the party! We were to meet at the house and go over some things together for the event. When I pulled up, it took me a minute to get out of the car. I was oblivious to what was about to happen, and I casually tried to brush the wrinkles out of my pretty lace dress, grab my purse and keys, and some snacks and water for us to enjoy while we party planned. I turned and walked towards the front walk, and I saw them standing on the front porch. I smiled, and said "Hey. You look beautiful today." That is when I realized, they were holding a match.
I couldn't understand why a match was lit in their hand, but it was there and I froze in confusion.
They walked down the steps of the porch very calmly, and tossed the burning match over the shoulder as they tossed their hair and smirked. I dropped everything in my hands, and watched in horror as the house burned to the ground. I have never seen a house burn so fast, it clearly had been planned. There was accelerant doused on every inch of that home. It burned so fast that I couldn't save anything inside. Nothing. Why would they do this? They helped build it. We were done with the work, and we were planning a party to celebrate. Then they were gone, and the house was gone, and my dreams of this home ever being the same was gone. Arson. This person that I had thought loved me and I had continuously been there for, was an arsonist. They didn't even know that I had been restoring this house to give to them as a gift. It wasn't for me. Nothing done was for me. I didn't want any credit. I just wanted to see them happy. Now it was gone, everything. The house was in ashes.
The worst part wasn't the fire. When I turned to walk to my car in shock, I was slow to move. When I turned around I realized they had invited an audience to watch. There were photographers, there were friends and family, there were my children, it was a show. It was a production. Everyone was there and watched my house burn to the ground. In front of that audience stood the guest of honor. The one who I was planning to give this house too, the one that the party would be for, the one that I had been there for, and they were smiling. It was an evil smile. One that said "I have played you, and you are an idiot."
What happened next was not what they expected. I smiled back, I climbed into my car, and I drove away. I didn't call the police to report the arson. I didn't stomp my feet and pick a fight. I didn't even ask why and demand answers. I just left. The only thing in the rear view mirror was the smoke rising from the site of the fire.
Goodbye beautiful home. You had so much potential, and you would have been a beautiful place.
This time when I buy a house, I will be much more careful who I ask to help me with the renovations.
