A story-telling wall

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Growing up we all used to have a special area in the house where we marked our height. It’s where Mom and Dad had us stand real straight, feet flat on the floor, heels back, head up, stay still. It’s where we marveled at how our bodies seemingly invisibly grew over a summer, a few months, a lifetime. Our house on Cottonwood Drive had that in the laundry room. I don’t remember doing it once we moved to Biscayne Drive in 8th grade. But I was reminded of this recently as I watched a movie, and saw a quick shot of that familiar wall in a family’s home.
Those were the days. When people owned their home, and knew they’d never leave, knew their grandchildren would be marked along side their parents measurements on that same wall. I never had that faith of stability or home ownership once I moved away, and it saddens me that our house doesn’t have a height wall. I’m sad that I didn’t have that faith of stability when we finally settled into Clovis 5 ½ years ago. All my professional life I had a bag packed in my mind, expected to grow shallow roots and then move again. It’s just the nature of this business. I thought about buying one of those height charts at the baby store, but I didn’t want some baby themed paper hanging in my house. It seemed silly. So, instead, I do nothing. I think about how senseless it is to mark a wall and then not be able to take that wall with us when/if we move. It’s all what ifs. This is the part of me I really don’t like; too analytical, too methodical, thinking too much about the unpredictable future instead of a guaranteed here and how. And I don’t even have any plans to move!
So, today, when I get home from work, I’m going to find a door and mark it up. Hey, if we ever move, I can bring that door with me, right? I can’t easily ply off the molding around a doorframe, but I can install a new door. I may as well start now. Today! My 4 and 9 year olds may think Mom is nuts, but it will help me always remember my precious little children who were once shorter than me, and fill my heart every minute of my day, and I will be glad.

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 2:07 PM

    Wow Kim, that is exactly how I have felt. I have wanted to mark up a wall with my little girls hieghts, but then realize that if I move I can not take it with me. It would be nice to own a home that I can do that with now. You are so right, I will go home today and find a place that I can markup. Better late then never.

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  2. mrsmegawattOctober 22, 2009 at 9:17 AM

    I say do it! We did that with both the kids. It was a ritual on the night before the first day of school. We'd make the mark and they'd quickly step away to see their growth within the last year. It's something we treasure. We did it on the moulding of the inside of the closets. When we move, I'm taking those with me. We'll just have to do some repair work! Years from now, you'll stand next to those marks and say "Wow! Finn was a little guy back then. And I don't remember Cooper just that tall!" Erika and Kevin would even compare their marks to eachothers at the same grade to see who was taller for their age. It's precious!

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