Neighbors come in all sizes.
I just got a new one that weighs 100 tons and has over 6,000 square feet of living space.
Television news has been following what is called the Pillsbury House and its move from 41st Street and Highway 11 on the east side of Sioux Falls to a mile from my house.
I followed it for a couple days in person, while it slept one night on my road, spent an hour at the end of my driveway, waiting to climb the next hill, and inched into place onto its new foundation.
The 27-mile trek took three days. By Thursday noon, it was in its new yard.
The move is a lesson in trust, patience and faith.
Our friends who bought the house needed at least all three as the home hit a few glitches, including soft roads, taking longer than planned, a tow and waiting for power to be cut and reestablished. It went as smoothly as it could, and the journey will be a good family story.
But it took time.
It sometimes looked a little take-your-breath-away tippy as the truck underneath rounded corners or maneuvered bridges, trees, mailboxes and other objects along the route. Mostly, it was just amazing to watch, as workers who looked like little LEGO people went under the house to change equipment, all while the house was inching along.

When a house as grand as this one moves, it’s hard not to give in to personification. One friend said it was like two old ladies passing each other when the house went by her historic farmstead. Waiting at the end of our driveway, it felt like a new neighbor just stopping for a visit.
When it parked on our road overnight, I couldn’t help but




compare it to the children’s book, Goodnight Moon.
“Goodnight house. Goodnight mouse. … Goodnight to the old lady whispering, ‘hush.’ Goodnight stars. Goodnight air. Goodnight noises everywhere,” is how the book ends.
This house has spirit and isn’t tired yet, even though it was built in the late 1800s. It’s ready to be a home for four young children and their parents on land that has been in the family for generations.
It’s ready for their music, laughter, holidays, birthday parties, big family gatherings, prayers at the dinner table, life changes and children snuggled in for rest at the end of each day.
While the house was being inched onto their property, a bald eagle flew overhead. It was a good sign that this young couple has the courage to make this home theirs, that they are ready for the challenge of a big change in their lives. It was a symbol of victory that this grand old lady made it to its new home.
The couple’s youngest child watched the last few yards of the move on a live video his mom was showing.
“House,” the two-year-old said.
“Big truck.”
Followed by, “My house.”
That’s about the only name it needs.