This is my mother's backyard. I am sitting on an outdoor couch in the shade smoking. The last time I actually lived here was in 1996...for six months after college. Other than those six months; where I was mostly in a hotel traveling for work; I haven't lived here since I went to college in 1991....thirty years ago.
Oddly, it hasn't changed much. It's all been redecorated. My old bedroom has been many things since then: my little half-brothers nursery, a den, a junk room, now....I think it's a sitting room.
My parents got diverse when I was sixteen; thirty-two years ago. So it's been just my mom's house for a very long time. She never remarried, and my little brother's father passed away in 2002. So, I never had a stepfather, and thankfully never will.
My stepmother, who passed away in 2014 was enough of a nightmare. Not including her daughter we don't know and actually forget exists. We were all over eighteen when my father got remarried. I was living in another state when my stepmother died; so did not attend her funeral. And I think the last time I saw or talked to my stepsister was in 2008. So, over thirteen years ago. Just a stranger.