My family’s home of 17 years in the beautiful, vibrant, and eclectic Vollintine-Evergreen neighborhood is now an empty shell. It was a house when we bought it in 2009, that quickly became our home.
Honestly, I thought we’d never leave. My children were born and raised there. We hosted birthdays, weddings, parties of all make and manner, and watched the world change outside our doorsteps.
We loved on our home, year after year, and sadly had to remove oaks that told stories of generations long before us. We met people who became neighbors, then lifelong friends. We saw the Greenline get resurrected, and the restoration of Crosstown Concourse — something many people thought would never happen. We even stuck out the pandemic span, knowing we would be safe.
We witnessed many people come and go. Never thinking we would be the ones leaving, too.
Photo by Anna Cienfuegos
Hulett Family with dog Chalupa in front of Vollintine-Evergreen home.
Now here we are in 2026, finding our foundation in a new dwelling unfamiliar to our feet and voices. I know we will get there in time, but it’ll take a minute for me to get established with this new normal.
Change is hard. I resist it. I always have. I was late to the cell phone party back in the aughts. And as most of our friends left their “starter homes” years ago, I held on. For the sake of memories, closeness, and access to my children. The idea of making it work…no matter what.
My children are now 14 and 11, respectively, and privacy is a commodity we don’t have anymore — you could hear everything in our old bungalow. I guess there were signs this might happen but I kicked the can down the road.
Perhaps having my office and music studio in the bedroom led to this.
I could sense my wife and kids were longing for more space, but I kept holding on. I worried about money, stress, and the inevitable move — fear is a powerful barrier. However, I slowly but surely began to listen and accept this change would be happening one way or another. And after a while, I warmed up to the idea.
Before continuing, I have to confess….MOVING is the worst.
I thought about what I’d miss at the old place — heck, it’s weird just saying “the old place.” I know I’ll miss walks on the Greenline, Artwalk events, and restaurants like Dino’s, Café Eclectic, and Alex’s. Not to mention North Memphis, a very special part of our city in general.
But then I started to think about what I might gain. Perspective, space, new beginnings, as well as the great unknown filled with its own surprises and challenges.
I have my own office now with one area of the space set up to work and the other section for making music. Separating work and music from sleep and rest has been a revelation. And more than anything, I love seeing how happy my family is in their new digs. It’s made for an interesting January, for sure.
We are somewhat settled in Central Gardens now, which I thought I’d never say in a million years. I guess it’s time to explore. My kids are close to school, and we aren’t too far from Overton Square, Cooper Young, Broad Avenue, and South Main. And I can always take a spin down memory lane when the spirit moves me.
Time is moving faster than you know. Finding old photographs and charms has been emotional. Living somewhere new has been strange. But we can live in it together as a family.
A house doesn’t become a home overnight.
Jeff Hulett is a freelance writer, musician, and PR consultant in Memphis. He lives in the Central Gardens neighborhood with his wife Annie, two girls Ella and Beatrice, and two dogs Chalupa and Delilah.