At long last, we moved. I've been talking about it, planning
for it, and then going through the process of culling, donating, tossing, and
packing for what seems like eternity, so that the actual move was almost
anti-climatic. No time for sentiment when it's 100 degrees, 200% humidity, and
the truck is a-waiting. To my old house: See You, it's been great.
To the New One: um, pardon me, but you looked like you were
pristine and perfect when I bought you; now that I'm living here, you've got
more than your fair share of problems.
On the other hand, don't we all?
I've found in life that often what I fear will be the big
problem – isn't; and what I thought would be a snap is a totally unexpected disaster.
For example, when our oldest son was in kindergarten, at a private school that
was known for its child-centered philosophy and for which we were paying a
fortune which we didn't have – we got a full-price offer on our house. At last
we could move so that my husband's commute to his new job, close to 2 hours
each way, would be eliminated.
I obsessed over moving my firstborn during the school year,
convinced that I was about to inflict unfixable psychic damage that would
require years of therapy. (What can I say? I'm a writer, I tend to be overly
dramatic). But sadly, it's the truth. I was terrified about the short- and
long-term effects on child number one.
So of course, I paid zero attention to the two-year old, who
was a happy-go-lucky, walked at ten months, toilet-trained himself at 20 months,
sprite.
You know the end of the story. Son number one headed off to public school and announced he'd always hated the fancy-schmancy private school. Son number two became a 30-pound permanent weight on my leg, regressed totally, and left me wondering just how dumb I could be to so totally misread the cues about both kids. OY.
For this move, I had no kids to worry about – but I did have
a very aged dog who is very particular about her toilet habits. (Why does any
move involve me worrying about bathroom habits?). So she spent the first week
of the move with her doctor, to avoid the chaos of the move (and the quick trip
we took to son number two's graduation from his MFA program – and yes, he did
grow up unscathed from that "traumatic" period of his life). We
brought Clio home on Monday and spent the next 24 hours walking around our
neighborhood trying to entice her to "do her business." She's pickier
than Queen Elizabeth about her throne. But finally, she has found a few spots
that suit her – and other than that, she's eating, sleeping, and begging for
treats like normal. It's quite possible that she prefers this house to the old
one for the same reason my husband does – no steps. Both suffer from aging
knees.
So I'm moved in and have one zillion boxes, workmen, and house problems to deal with. But I'm also more than ready to move on to some murder and mayhem – fictional of course.
Marian, the Northern, unsettled, but getting there, half of
Evelyn David
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Ghosts of Lottawatah - trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 - I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 - A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 - Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)
Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Doubles Back Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Zoned for Murder - stand-alone mystery
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Trade Paperback
Marian, I'm so happy it went well for you. Having just moved my youngest from Iowa back to KC, I can so sympathize with you. I'm living right now with towers of boxes and bins in my living room until he gets a new job and a place of his own.
ReplyDeleteHope you, your husband, and Clio get settled in soon.
Once this has become "yours", this will all seem a mere blip on the radar. And now with Clio happy, and no one having to climb stairs, that blip is much nearer.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new home.
Enjoy your new home. It will all get in order, and you can relax and live your life. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, enjoy the new home! We've made like 6 or 7 interstate moves in the past 10 years and I think one is coming up - loved them all but you are so right about worrying about what doesn't happen and not worrying about what does happen.
ReplyDelete