Week 52: Gains and Losses

Week 52: Gains and Losses was taken in the backyard of the Gaines house. The Gaines, Dude (who's legal name is Albert, but is soo Dude that even their phone book listing was under "Dude Gaines") and Betty, are my friend's grandparents. Last summer I took this picture after Dude and Betty had moved out of their home of 59 years. Yes. Fifty-nine years. Dude and Betty lived here as husband and wife, parents and amazing neighbors for just shy of 60 years. They brought their baby daughter, Barb, home to this house 50+ years ago. And last summer, Barb, my friend's mom, who lives in the house next door watched her childhood home go on the market and sell while her dad and mom sallied forth into their next home, a retirement community out-of-state.

I got to watch my friend, Leeshy, process a really big moment in life as she watched her mom work to sell the Gaines' home...a centerpiece in almost every one's memories. In fact, their memories touched me as well. See, Leeshy's been my friend since 1st grade. We went to elementary school together. We did sleepovers and adventure walks and boy crushes and moves and letter writing and summer doldrums together. She was my maid-of-honor the first time I got married. (I say "first" because I believe "second" is coming...even though I don't know when or how or who at this exact moment.) And part of my growing up memories include going with Leeshy to her grandparents' home and eating old-fashioned, traditional food during the holidays...listening to Dude and Betty and all their company. Dude is the jokester. Betty knows everybody and everything about everybody.

Last summer, Leeshy, and her husband, Jason, came to take Dude and Betty to their new life in Texas. It was a lot of history meeting a bunch of unknown, staring each other straight on. It was especially hard on my friend who is very, very sentimental. And the only thing I knew to do was to take pictures of it all. I've been scheming a book documenting the Gaines' house but it has yet to come into being.

Anyway, I've been thinking of how to wrap up my Project 52 and somehow the Gaines came to mind. Of course, the end of my Project 52 journey pales in comparison to the majority of a lifetime's memories being packed up and divvied up, but the sense of Gains and Losses is there in both. It's been good times. It's been hard times. It's been happy times. And in the case of Dude and Betty, they're still alive and kicking. They've found a new lease on life in a new town. In their losses they've found gains.

I relate.

So even though my first Project 52 is over...I'm up for Round Two and all the adventure it has to offer. I might take a week or two off, but I think I need to go again. And I'm asking for travel companions. So, all of you who've been reading for a year: Who wants to join in? Let me know. I'm looking forward to Chapter Two!

PS: A special thanks to my partner-in-crime for my first Project 52, SCM. It's been amazing. So glad we did this, girl. So proud of us both. Hurrah! 52!!!