Remember Cardboard Playhouses?

Ah, the fond memories of my cousins' amazing cardboard fort that their parents got them from Sears. I remember being absolutely enamored by its ornate design and how they set it up in their finished basement. Once I had the chance to play in it, I couldn't stop raving about how awesome it was. Little did I know that a delightful surprise awaited me a few months later.

My sisters and mother, bless their hearts, surprised me with a cardboard clubhouse of my own! They had found it at a garage sale and set it up in our unfinished basement. I was over the moon with joy and spent countless hours down there, making it my very own fortress of fun.

But, alas, life had other plans. A few months later, tragedy struck when our basement flooded, and my beloved cardboard sanctuary was reduced to a soggy mess. I remember shedding quiet tears as I painstakingly carried each piece to the trash, saying goodbye to something that had brought me so much joy.

In my determination to recapture the magic, I tried to recreate it using boxes and tape a few weeks later. But, alas, I lacked the proper knack for cardboard construction, and my attempt fell short. It was a bittersweet realization, as I knew that even if I succeeded, I couldn't bear the thought of losing it all over again if the basement flooded once more.

Still, despite the loss of my cardboard haven, the memories of those happy times remain etched in my heart. Sometimes, the fleeting moments of joy and excitement make life all the more precious. And though I may not have a physical fortress anymore, the memory of that cardboard wonderland continues to bring a smile to my face whenever I think back on those cherished days.