It’s beginning. My peeps are beginning to fly. Today Claire and Graham drove away from our Orem home in a U-Haul filled with everything they own. They are moving to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where they will begin living their own lives away from ours.
Every time I see a moving van or truck, I get emotional and think of this song by our favorite Story Teller, Bill Harley. I haven’t moved many times in my life. I grew up on a farm. Farmers don’t move. But I moved to college. I moved to Israel. I moved to South Africa. I moved to Nigeria and then Salt Lake, and then Orem, with quite a few apartment moves in between. Then two years ago we moved to Washington. Leaving a place is always hard for someone like me. I love the history of places and the memories those places hold. It’s hard for me to move away from those memories. I like keeping memories close. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why I write.
This tender children’s song captures the emotion of Moving Day perfectly.
Moving Day
©Bill Harley, All rights reserved
Listen to it here. Makes me cry every time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw5NchK2CSk
Car’s full,
Trunks packed –
Stuff on the roof rack.
Mom says
We leave soon.
Last time
In my room.
One last look out my window –
The yard, the street,
the place I know.
I go, they stay –
It’s moving day.
Here’s where
My bed stood.
Floors made
Of old wood.
Mom left
The light on
Walls marked
With crayon.
The door I slammed when I was mad.
The place I cried when I was sad.
I go, they stay
It’s moving day.
When I grow up, I might come back
To this place again.
If I find some kids live here
I’ll tell them who I am.
“Let’s go,” Dad calls
I guess that’s all
Goodbye house,
Goodbye room
I won’t be back soon
Down the steps,
Out the front door
Now I don’t live here
Anymore.
Part of my heart stays
On moving day.