THE BANGERTER expansion is affecting many families, particularly those whose homes are slated for demolition. Though the situation is very unfair, there is always a bright side to things! The Elliots are a prime example of taking a bad situation and turning it into an experience that blooms and grows.
Alayna Elliot (12) explained how she felt about her home being marked for destruction.“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Elliot said. When her family found out about the expansion project, her mom was the first to notice that their house was marked for demolition. Elliot feels that the whole situation has taught her how to live and how to get through hard times together with her family. It’s somewhat bittersweet, but to make it bearable, she has been making light of it by painting murals all over her house’s walls! “It doesn’t matter if it’s all getting destroyed anyway,” she said.
Around their house, they have many beautiful murals,s each with its own stories and meanings. These projects have added life to their home, which would otherwise have been dull and boring. They express their personalities and feelings through the paintings on their walls. There is one mural in particular with the word FREEBURD that stands out because it is what Elliot’s mom has changed her last name to!
Ms. Freeburd explained that she found out when a notice at their door told them to attend a bangerter expansion meeting. When she saw the red dot on their house, she had a hard time believing it. Over time, she came to accept it, and instead of focusing on the negatives, Freeburd tried to focus on the positives. She thought she could move her and her family wherever she wanted! She thought of places like Italy and Mexico, but ended up wanting to stay close to the family business. “Realizing we only have a limited number of sunsets to watch from this particular spot on the globe, while we sit on our roof,” Freeburd said. This mindset is what inspired them to cherish every moment they have with this house and really make it their own!
Jaynie Cannon, niece of Ms. Freeburd, thinks the whole situation has been very unfair to her aunt and cousin. “I think their situation is a stab at the heart, but how they’re handling it is awesome, just like them!” they said. Though Cannon expresses her sadness, she also sees how well the Elliots have handled the situation. She explains how much she loves that house, and seeing all the projects really makes visiting the Elliots an experience.
The Elliots really are wonderful people, and they show what it’s like to live every day without regrets and to cherish every moment. It really is a shame their house is being destroyed. They made it their own, and since they have lived this way, they won’t ever go back. They show how a terrible situation can be turned into something beautiful.
