My house has been sold. It was on the market five days and I received two offers for it. I took the one that was a nice chunk of change over my asking price. The bonus for me was that the buyers were a really nice young couple with two adorable young boys. The night they walked through the house, I heard them yell down from the third floor, “Ooooh, Mommy! This could be our playroom!” Immediately, I wanted them to live here.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out a few days after I accepted their bid that they waived a home inspection. Personally, I would never buy a house without having it inspected, but this family lost a house because it didn’t pass inspection. I think they were frustrated with that experience and wanted to be in a house of their own so badly, they were willing to take the risk. Plus, they didn’t want to pay the inspection fee again. My house is in great condition, even though it’s old, so I know everything would have been up to snuff, which is lucky for them. Plus, the honesty with which I completed the disclosure document ensures they’re not getting a lemon.

Selling the house was a huge relief. Even though I knew it would sell quickly, there was a very small chance it wouldn’t and I would be carrying a mortgage and apartment payment over the summer with no income. I’ll be even more relieved when the homebuyers get their mortgage commitment and we have a closing date. My mom told me the other day that I have a horseshoe up my ass. Because she said this to me, I should probably expect this deal to fall through. I need to accept that the pendulum is finally swinging in my favor, but that’s not so easy after living miserably for over ten years.

Last night my entire family went to dinner for my grandmother’s 90th birthday. We’ve got some hardy genes in our lineage, because just about everyone lives to be a bazillion. Very few people in my family have had long or debilitating illnesses and everyone looks at least ten years younger than they really are. A few weeks ago, Tony, John, Caryn and I went to lunch at the Hard Rock Café in Niagara Falls, which happens to be in the same building as the casino. We were proofed to enter the casino, and we were proofed again by security upon re-entry from the restaurant. The guard looked at my birthdate, looked at me, looked back at my birthdate and said, “REALLY? No way! Wow.” I’m sure he wasn’t screwing with me because people always think I’m in my early twenties. So whenever you hear me bitching and moaning with my “I hate people” diatribes, understand I am referring to everyone OTHER THAN the people who mistake me for a much younger woman. Just wanted to make that clear.

Dinner was a loud and boisterous affair, because my family does not know how to take turns talking. Everyone just yells at once and whoever is the loudest gets heard. Uncle Chuck regaled us with tales of school bus driving, Patrick and I imitated William Hung’s “She Bangs” audition most of the night, and my dad opened my grandmother’s birthday cards and flashed the cash so everyone could see who gave the most generous gift, for which he promptly took credit. We went around the table with well wishes for the family matriarch on this milestone anniversary. There was laughter, more than a few tears, and an abundance of love. When I move, it’s going to be very hard to say goodbye to the woman who taught me how to play solitaire, make the best spaghetti sauce in the world, sing songs in Italian and give of myself to others. When I grow up, I hope I’m half the woman she is.

I’ve spent most of today dismantling my very first home and packing it away into big Rubbermaid containers. Anyone who’s ever been here knows that this house is a reflection of who I am. It’s charming and cozy and as soon as you walk through the door, you feel the warmth.

I plan to leave a little part of me here for the new residents so their home will be filled with happiness, peace and love.