Home For Sale

I am trying to sell my house.

I found a little place I want to rent for a while not too far from where I live now. I’ve lived in this neighborhood since 1994. I fled up here right after one of my breakups with Bruce before we ever got married.

It’s pretty central. Right by UT. But back in 94, it was considered North. Anything north of the river that runs through downtown was considered undesirable and uncool.

Some hardcore Austinites still feel that way. But if you are questioning my cool Austin cred, I have lived South before. OK? I did my time in 78704.

I’ve had 11 different places I called home in town since I moved here in 1988. (December of 1987 but who’s counting?) I’ve spent the last 30 years or so up here in this one neighborhood. Hancock/Hyde Park.

I guess you could say I don't like change.

So to lessen the panic attack odds, I am looking nearby for my next place.

I thought I’d take a walk to see how far away the little rental property was from my usual stomping grounds and what my walks will be like there. (I walk a whole lot.)

So my 22-year old twins joined me on this expedition. Other than being extremely hot and a lot of exciting lizard sightings, it was pretty uneventful. The kids gave their approval and as we were heading back, on a different route, lo and behold, there was the second Austin house I ever lived in.

I decided to give them the “homes Kelly Willis has lived in” tour. Just for this area. And I’m so sorry but I’m gonna give it to you too. (Press #2 on your headset now.)

This tiny 750 square foot home belonged to my manager, the legendary Carlyne Majer. Carlyne had owned and booked the equally legendary Soap Creek Saloon in the 70's during Austin’s classic, epic, hippie-redneck era.

She and her husband George Majewski were keeping this little house for storage, mostly. They let me and my boyfriend, Mas Palermo, live there for next to nothing. But we had to move all of their stuff into the second bedroom. It didn't all fit in there so stacks of stuff also lived in our bedroom. It was pretty dusty. But cheap!

George collected the coolest old comic books. From R. Crumb to what I later learned were called Tijuana bibles, which are small, vintage comic books of huge 30’s stars engaging in not just risque, but downright pornographic scenarios.

a page from a Tijuana bible that is shareable

Needless to say, I loved looking at them! Poor Greta Garbo, she just wanted to be left alone!

I had a journal/diary I kept back then and I need you to know, these were exciting times. Big things were happening. Showcases for big record labels, write-ups in the paper and trade magazines, meeting great musicians.

Blah blah blah… wait! What’s this about MCA?!?

But page after page of my journal is me expressing run of the mill, mundane sadness and fear. Over and over. The most annoying and ridiculous stuff. In the margin it might say “Tony Brown likes us!” Like an afterthought. (Tony eventually signed us to MCA Records.) And that's the only interesting or even just simple clue to career stuff. I’m so irritated with 19/20 year old me.

Current me is doing the exact same BS when I write in a journal now. Sorry future me.

I think Mas and I got married while living here. Because I remember our color scheme was black and red. Everything on our wedding registry was black or red. I thought it was rockabilly looking. I’m no interior designer.

When we got divorced a year and a half later, Mas got three black plates and bowls and I got three black plates and bowls. 50/50!

Anyway, divorced again, things divied up again, childless (empty nest version) again.

Here we go!

I wonder what I’ll remember about this next place.

I’ll remember I was excited enough to make my kids walk over there with me. (And we got a sunburn. Some things never change.)

But on that day I was more excited than scared and more hopeful than sad.

Progress!

Wishing you all excitement and hope!

xo,
Kelly

P.S. I’ll be on the road again starting this week. See you soon, Columbus, Charleston (WV), New York, Annapolis, Vienna (VA), and Nashville!