Settling In

I've come to accept that at least for the time being I am going to be here. And I have begun to settle in. I'm not so sure that it is the best thing to do, but as I see no other option it will have to do for now. 

I paid my son back the money he sent me to get here, and the small amount that he will accept for rent. He has some financial things that he is trying to accomplish, so I hope that it helps. I certainly don't want to put an obstacle in his way.

The biggest challenge for me right now is keeping busy so my mind doesn't squirrel cage on negative things. I have taken up baking again. I've made a few attempts at getting a sour dough starter to take. So far, I haven't been successful at it, but I can get store bought yeast to take hold and rise. Today I made some shortbread cookies. It's been years since I made cookies for my son and grandson. They aren't as excited about them as they were when they were four years old. But it gave me something to do. And the cookies aren't that bad. 

I have started walking again. But I'm afraid that very soon the southern summer will put a quick end to the habit. I guess I will have to take up swimming when that happens, though I'm not too keen to wear a bathing suit in public. I might have to be one of those early morning swimmers.

On my walk today, I was followed for quite a while by a butterfly. It flew around me while I stopped and pulled out my phone to snap a picture. Then it flew off on it's own after I thanked it for the snapshot. There are lots of birds here, and while I enjoy listening to music while I walk, I often go without it to hear them sing instead. Most of the birds that I saw in Washington were either crows or Steller's Jay. They caw, but I never heard them sing. I have missed the morning and evening symphonies that we get in the south. It's nice to hear them again.

We are living in a golf course community. The course is beautiful and well kept. It has paths for the carts, which I suppose all courses do. This morning I decided that it would be nice to see where the paths ended up. While the course was empty when I started out, I did encounter a few golfers along the way. They seemed surprised to see someone walking there. I do not play golf and thus have never been one to frequent the courses. I do not know the etiquette, other than you do not walk on the greens, which is common sense. So I don't know if I was breaking any social rules. I really hope that they were simply surprised because no one else does it. It would be a great place to walk, and there aren't many other great places here. As for learning the game...It's an expensive hobby and I am left-handed. I'm sure they make clubs for left-handed people, but it was an issue when I was in gym class in high school. And I have had no desire to pursue it since. If you know, please feel free to enlighten me. I really don't want to go around pissing people off just to take a walk.

And Then...

It has been hard. I tried to write this post while I was on the train...but it was all too fresh. I was a total mess. I could barely speak in whole sentences. 

What happened, why I was on the train rather than enjoying a road trip across the country...I still find it hard to speak in complete sentences about. 

We were going to leave on Tuesday morning. I found this out when Karen decided that we would go spend our last night in Washington with our friend Julie. I heard Karen on the phone telling Julie. She would never give me a date. The dates I had were all about when they would deliver and pick up the pod. I wrote about my frustration surrounding the pod in several posts here.

They came to pick up the pod bright and early on Monday, the 17th. Karen was awake to great them. Not everything that she wanted in the pod got packed and placed there. But Karen had a beloved angel trumpet tree that the guy who picked up the pod helped her move in. When she told me this, she was happy. But immediately after, she turned sour and got violent. It happened so fast that it rattled me..

I woke up around 8:30 to help with whatever needed to happen. I knew that Karen had Carley coming over to do more cleaning. Karen told me about the angel trumpet and then started yelling at me that I was the reason her things remained unpacked. After throwing parties, going out with friends and having the girls spend 3 nights with us, she felt she bore no responsibility to see that her things were packed by an extended deadline. I was shocked. And I angrily told her that packing her things was her responsibility. She claimed that after I had packed as much of her things as I could, securing her televisions and carrying a majority of it out to the pod myself, that I had sat on my ass. I was reminding her of all that I had done, and she yelled at me to shut up, but I was not going to be silenced. Then she yelled at me to get out and threw a chair at me. When I looked up from where the chair had landed, I saw her coming at me, fists raised. I picked up the chair she had just thrown at me and chased her into the hall with it. That rattled her and she left for about an hour. 

In the hour that she was gone I reached out to my children. I had no one else to turn too. My son Venmoed  me money and told me to come stay with him. I booked a train and an Uber to take me to the station and was walking out the door when Karen came back with Carley to finish cleaning. 

The look on her face was utter shock when she saw me leaving. She has not reached out to me at all since I left. Ken and I have texted a few times. 

This is not the first time that Karen has gotten abusive to me. I haven't written about them, mostly out of shame. It is part of the reason that I have had trouble writing for the past few years. Nobody wants to be the victim. There is a lot to it, and I am not in a place where I can talk about it. I don't know if that would be a good idea even if I were in a better place for it. I need to talk to a therapist before I can decide that.

The train across the country was long and hard. My mind squirrel caged on what had transpired. I could not stop thinking about it. I arrived at my son's a week ago.  He says that I can stay as long as I need. But this is not an ideal situation. I am crowding them. My son talks of wanting me to stay. I don't yet know what to do. I am still raw and broken. In the course of a few minutes, my home was snatched from me. I don't know how this will work. For now, all I can do is exist. 

There is more I should say. I just can't right now.

Postponed!

Everything hurts. So much so that I don't want to move. And my soul is heavy. I want to weep tears that I am too exhausted to shed. And I am genuinely angry.

Karen and Nora carried on last night as if they were the only two people here, every light on, calling out loudly to each other from different rooms until 3:30 am. And while they were at it, they scattered the items from Karen's bedroom throughout the house. Every couch, every chair, every countertop, every shelf, a majority of the floor space, everything is covered in the debris from her packing. Then Nora went home, and Karen went to bed, leaving the mess behind her. It was evident in the chaos that she was nowhere near done packing. Apparently, this is some sort of dysfunctional tradition with them on the night before a move.

I tried to go to bed around 1:00 am. but that was impossible with the clamor going on. I did finally manage to get to sleep sometime after Nora left. But I was angry, and the workload of the last week had my back cramping in massive Charlie horses. Around 4:00 am, I finally got up to dig the potassium and magnesium out of the bag I'd packed them in and down a couple with a glass of hot salt water.

I set my alarm for 7:30 am, and did actually drag myself out of the bed when it went off. That was the highlight of my day. Ken was awake and watching YouTube when I got up. I went into his room and told him that I really needed to get him packed or all of his things would be left behind, and I didn't want that. I asked him to pick out a few outfits to take on the plane with him and I would pack the rest. I also asked him to show me where all his tools were stored. To my utter shock, he got up and started packing his things.

Karen got up a few minutes later and started her morning blaring Marvin Gaye music and dancing around kitchen where I was making myself a cup of tea. She said that I should sit down for a while and enjoy it before we got started. I told her that we didn't really have time for that and got to work carrying out the boxes and bags that she and Nora had managed to pack up the night before. 

By 11:30 Ken had most of his things packed and in the pod. He was helping me pack the large TV when Karen started losing it. She was yelling and cursing because she couldn't find any of the dozen or so rolls of packing tape that she had scattered among her chaos. I had enough of it. I told her that all my things were in the pod, and it was no skin off my nose if hers weren't. That because of her I was exhausted, and every muscle in my body was aching. I would still help her, but not if she chose to be abusive. She could just as well row her boat alone. About that time the lady from the pod company called to tell us that she was about 20 minutes away. Karen asked her if there was any way that we could have another hour or so. The lady said no, but that we could reschedule for the next available day, which is Monday. We were both relieved to hear this and agreed quickly. I went out to the pod and found Ken tying everything down so that it won't slip and slide around on its adventure across the country. I gave him the news. He seemed happier about it than either Karen or me. 

When I went back inside, I decided that she had invited everyone over for a party and then made the mess the house was in. I was exhausted and just over it. After taking a few more items to the pod and then closing and locking it, I went in and took a nap.

I woke up two and a half hours later to find Karen gone. She and Sandy had gone out to lunch. They hadn't cleaned a thing. The entire house was a disaster. The only clear place to sit was the toilet. I went to the grocery store to get things to make sandwiches for Ken and I and a few snacks for the party. 

After Karen and Sandy got back, Nora came over. But they made no real move to clear away any of the mess until after the girls and Carley got there. Then it was apparent that the mess was a problem. Karen stacked a pile of items to go to the pod in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen, the main traffic area of the house. I started taking them out to the pod. I wanted everything that was going out to the pod to be there before dark. The latch on the pod is difficult, and I didn't want to be messing with it at night. That was when Karen decided that she should start organizing her mess. It was a good time to start too, because the "guests" realizing that Karen didn't have dinner for them had gone out to eat. 

I really think this party tonight is a mistake. I can't wait for it to be over. I can't wait until they do come and get the pod, even though I am grateful for the extension. Even tonight, I have been spotting things here and there that I'd like to get into the pod before it leaves.

   

Then all we have to worry about is getting Nora, Ken and a dog and two cats to the airport. Of course, there will be the seven-day road trip that Karen and I will take to deal with. But having grown up as Army brats, we travel well together.

Still, I never want to move with these two again, ever!

11th Hour

 The 11th hour is upon us. In less than 12 hours they will be here to pick up the pod and take it across the country. With the exceptions of the items and clothing I plan to take in the car and a few odds and end items that I missed while packing, everything of mine is bubble wrapped, boxed and packed in the pod. I woke in the morning with the goal of working to help Karen and Ken get to that point also. But it was a bit like dragging a large dog into the exam room at the vet. It didn't help at all that the weather was like whiplash. In the course of an hour, it went from bright sunshine to snowing hail, then back to sunshine and then overcast and rain. Absolutely crazy weather to be trying to move in.

My plan really was to pack up Ken's room while he was at work. But he didn't go to work today. There was no explanation why. He also didn't pack anything in his room. He isn't feeling well, I know this. He is still recovering from the flu. It took me more than a month to get back to normal from it. But he wouldn't let me pack his things either. He was even more a bit short tempered about it when he told me he'd pack everything this coming weekend, and I replied that they will be here tomorrow morning to pick up the pod.

Karen slept in really late. After she got up, we both worked very hard to get what we could in the pod. We have the things we want from both sheds. All that I'm leaving behind in them for the junkers are two cheap suitcases that I hate. I'm not even going to glance at what Karen and Ken are leaving. I was totally appalled to find out that Karen was keeping an picture of our grandmother out in the shed. The picture was taken about 1911 or 12. My grandmother who was around 2 at the time was stylishly dressed, standing in front of a period toy and wearing pearls and a gold locket. It is in a very ornate, gold leaf frame that was damaged by the neglect of being left in the shed. Besides being an amazing family heirloom, it is probably worth a fortune. And she put it in the shed to keep the bats company...

Then tonight...As we were just heading out to buy more tape and boxes, Karen's daughter showed up. I love Nora, and it is great to see her home from Hawaii. But she is a major distraction. Every item to be packed is passed back and forth. The memories of it are discussed and the gossip about anyone else who is associated with the item is shared. This would have been fabulous a few weeks ago, but c'mon! We are at the "Throw it in a box and get it out the door" stage of this move. 

Not only is Nora here, but I have learned that our friend, Sandy will be here to help us. Karen told me this a few days ago. At first she told me that Sandy was coming on Friday afternoon to help us get everything packed. My reply was a deadpan, as emotionless as I could make it, "They are coming to pick up the pod on Friday morning." And Karen replied, "She will help us clean." Then later that same day I was looking into the pantry and asked if we should take the can goods over to the homeless shelter. She said no, that Carley and the girls would be coming over on Friday afternoon to pick up art supplies and my bike and a scooter. She could go the cans to see what she wanted and then we could pack the rest of it up to take to Alabama. As deadpan and emotionless as I could make it, I reiterated for about the millionth time that they would be picking up the pod on Friday morning. We have decided to take the cans that are left to the shelter after ...who knows after what. Because Carley is going to leave the girls with us and they will have a sleep over here with Nora. Sandy will be staying the night too.......I. Have. No. Words. So, in our 860 sqft house, that is torn apart, everything sitting on the floor because we are moving, we will have five adults and three children having a sleep over. What could possibly go wrong? 

And we have a dog and two cats who are freaking out because of the chaos. 

Did you see the moon tonight? There was a total eclipse.

Count Down

 

The pod arrived on Friday, but not until after 4:30 pm. By then Ken was home and as I suspected he rushed out and was doing his "man of the house" routine. The woman who delivered the pod told me that the door to the pod could be placed to face either direction. But Ken jumped in with "put it here", mainly because he didn't want to have to move his van. As a result, the door to the pod is facing away from the gate and we have to walk up a small incline. Even though I spoke up and requested the door face the gate, no, she listened to Mr. Bossman. I have to work harder to keep from emasculating a guy. I remember it with every heavy box I have been carrying up that incline. I was so furious with my brother, and I let him know it. Then I went to my room, smoked almost a whole joint by myself and went to sleep without making him dinner. Having gone to bed at 5:30 pm, I woke up at 2:00 am. The headache that I had brewed the day before was still with me and I was grumpy with the frustration that I have been feeling.

Karen is the only one of us who has actually been inside the house. Her description of the floorplan is that you walk into the house and into the main hall. on either side of the hall are two of the bedrooms, the kitchen and the living room. In the middle of the hall is a small staircase that goes up to a landing where the bathroom is, then goes to the back of the house and staircase that leads to my area upstairs. The only problem is that looking at the pictures I have, there is just no way that is a three-story house. And it isn't the style that lends itself to being a split level. Anytime I show her the pictures and ask for an explanation of what I'm seeing, she says she can't explain it, and I will just have to wait and see. That too has been a source of irritation to me. It's not just that she can't tell me anything about the floor plan, but she says she didn't pay attention to things like closets and pantries. What she saw as the porch, and that is all she apparently needed to know.

I used my early morning hours looking at the few pictures I have trying to figure out what exactly I can expect. And to my amazement I did actually come up with a reasonable deduction of what is there. The revelation started with a picture of the back of the house. I noticed that the shades are up in the upper left window. And in that window is a can of some sort. I was able to locate that window from the pictures I have of my area inside. It is the window that you face as you come up the stairs to my landing. It accounts for one the dormer windows. There is a picture of the bathroom where that window is showing in the mirror above the vanity and sinks. The other two dormer windows are in my bedroom and bonus room.

Coming up the stairs to my area, there is a rather large landing. Karen says that it is large enough for a small seating area. The window that you see is the one that I noticed the can sitting in. For the window to be in the mirror in the bathroom it has to be the door opposite it, it's kind of hard to see. The door on the left with a window showing is the larger of my two rooms. Karen can't really give me an idea of how large it is. But it has it's own mini split. There is a second one in the landing. and all of the rooms have ceiling fans. There are also closets in both of my rooms and a large linen closet in the bathroom. But the bedroom closets seem like they may be on the small side. From what I can tell from the pictures I have; the smaller closet may be close to the size of the closet that I currently use. The other room, the closet may be the size that you see in a child's bedroom. It will be more storage space than I have had for a while. I'm really kind of excited about this now.

After being up several hours figuring all this out I decided to take a nap and get up Saturday morning ready to go fresh. I woke up around 9:30 am. Karen was sitting in the living room playing games on her cell phone. Ken was in his room watching YouTube. I went out to the pod to see what we had to work with. It is 16 feet long, which is way more than I can imagine that we will use as we do not plan to take a majority of our furniture. Inside the pod are handles that can be used to tie the boxes in place so they don't slip around the unit during transit. I hadn't thought about that, so as much as I didn't want to spend money and especially at the big box store that I went too. But I needed to get things so we can get this show on the road...literally. When I got home, Karen and Ken had not moved from the locations they were in when I left. My frustrations began to flourish again. 

They are coming on Friday to pick the pod up and ship it. I am more than willing to bet that it won't be 4:30 in the afternoon. Probably more like 8:00 am. So, we need to have it packed and ready to go by Thursday night. There is nothing that I can do to motivate Karen and Ken. They are making their own decisions here. I have decided that all I can do is make sure that my things are in the pod. Karen and I already had around 30 boxes packed and stacked up in the living room. I grabbed a travel dolly that I had taking up space in my bedroom and started hauling boxes out to the pod. My plan was to take the larger and heavier boxes first. Then add a layer of larger lightweight boxes and then stacking the smaller boxes on top of them, doing one row at a time so we don't have to reach over a row of boxes to stack the pod to the ceiling. We have space, but we won't if we waste it. Karen wouldn't even stop to listen to my plan. She had three rows deep before we were even stacked halfway up. I kept having to rearrange it. 

I was exhausted to the point of physically shaking by the time we got all the boxes in the pod. When we came back into the house, Ken was pulling on his shoes and asked if he could help us load. For the three and a half hours that we were loading and arranging the pod, he sat in his bedroom watching YouTube, and as soon as we were done, he decided he should be helping.

When I got up this morning, it was Ground Hog's Day all over again. Karen was sitting on the couch playing games on her cell phone and Ken was in his bedroom watching YouTube. The only difference was that Ken had gone out and brought me home two egg McMuffins. I looked around and decided that it's time to get down to the suitcase that I will be taking with me on the trip across the country. I had told myself that it would be fine to leave my bookcases intact. At first, I wasn't going to take them. They are cheap Ikea knockoffs. But when I was in the big box store, I noticed that they are more than what I paid for them three years ago when I bought them. And with the clown we have running the country, who knows how much more they will cost next week. 

Last night I thought leaving the shelves constructed would be fine. But why? Even with plenty of space, it will fill up fast if we all do things like that. So, I deconstructed them and my desk. Then I went through my clothes and packed everything I know for sure I won't be taking in my suitcase for the trip. I need to do laundry before I can finish this task. And I couldn't, because as soon as I started taking my furniture apart, Karen got up an started doing her laundry. I will do mine tomorrow and work out just what I plan on taking with me. Everything else will be packed and taken out to the pod. My hope is to be living out of my suitcase tomorrow night, and if not, at least by Tuesday night. 

Karen's last day at work is Tuesday. I honestly do not know if Ken has even put in notice that he's leaving. It's important that he contacts Social Security. But I dare not even broach the subject with him. He knows this, but he is being a dick about it. I'm going to do my thing and let him FAFO. It would be nice if we could sit down like adults and have a constructive discussion about what the timetables are and what needs to happen. But no, that can't happen when people turn stubborn and refuse to do their part. 

Realistically, the communication has not been stellar. Karen insisted that she has the planning under control. When I'd ask for information that I needed, like "What's the target move date?" and "When is the pod coming?" or "Do we have junkers coming to take refuse away?" I was more likely to get a "Don't worry about it, everything is taken care of." Only it isn't very well planned. Nora is coming to help us pack on Thursday night. The pod will be gone the next morning. 

My frustration at this point is boundless. All I can really do is make sure that I have done what I need for myself. I know that by this time next month, I will be complaining because I won't be able to find all my stuff and I wish I'd labeled the boxes better. I hope that we will all be settling into our new home.

Patiently Waiting...

It's morning. I'm not usually up in the morning. Being a lifelong night owl, I prefer to rise closer to noon, though I do actually like mornings. One of my favorite memories of my college years was sitting in the cafeteria having tea and watching the sun rise over the ocean. Even then, I was not a morning person. I would be there after working nights cleaning the floors at the hotels and country clubs of Miami. It's crazy how memory works, isn't it? I often forget why I walked into a room, if I seasoned the chicken before I put it into the oven, or if I turned the fireplace off before I left the house. But I can completely immerse myself into a memory that is 45 years old, even to the extent of feeling the calmness that the ocean caused in me, seeing the crumbs and half eaten muffin on the plate and tasting the warm sweetness of my morning tea. Even the mild pain the rising sun caused my eyes. But ask me where I put my hairbrush this morning, that is a trick question.

I am up this morning waiting for the moving pod to arrive. Boxes are piled high in the living room and my bedroom. We will have one week to fill the pod with all of our earthly treasure to be moved south, and it is late. We were told that it would arrive between 8:00 and 10:00, and if it had, Karen would be here to greet it. Instead, I am patiently waiting for it with the bank card, a gift from our other sister, Brenda. Time is slipping by, and I am getting less patient with the passing. 

I was hoping that it would in the least get here before Ken would arrive home from work. If he is here when it arrives, he will take over, and most likely have them place it in the most inconvenient place just for spite. 

 Ken is becoming a thorn in our side. We have been talking this move for more than a year and a half. In 2024 our slumlord raised our rent by a third. We saw the handwriting on the wall then. It is just too expensive to live here anymore. We held out, hoping for a better outcome for the election, and the possibility of a better economy for the working class. But then November 5 happened. Now it is urgent that we get ourselves to a place where we can live comfortably within meager means. 

While we discussed moving "home" as possibility, Ken was all for it. Often sitting and talking with us as we searched online sites for places we might rent. He helped set the budget for how much we feel comfortable spending on housing and making the wish list for things we fell are desirable in our new abode. We made a plan that he and Nora would fly across the country with the animals, and Karen and I would drive the one vehicle that will survive the trip. He was good with that. He's flown with animals before. But when Karen found the house and the move date became firm, he became downright passive aggressive regarding the whole thing. He hasn't packed. He is insisting that he take the animals across the country in his van, an idea that has so many obvious obstacles it makes me want to smack him upside his head and scream "Sure! What could possibly go wrong?" 

His van is in rough shape. It won't make it across the state, much less the country. The dog is a runner. If he escapes the van, he will run off and be gone. And we have no guarantee that we would be able to find him. The same for the cats. If they escape, we have done them a horrible disservice. He has not packed anything, though he is quick to declare that ALL of his tools must go with him. Karen and I are both sacrificing furniture and belongings that we would otherwise keep with us. But he feels fine insisting that he keeps all of his belongings. I suppose that Karen and I will have to pack for him. As far as I am concerned, if I have to pack his things, I decide what he takes and what gets left. If he wants a say in that, he'd better get busy because he has a week to pack. 

Karen has gone to a farewell lunch that we both were invited too. We were told that it was to be on Saturday, but last night Margaret called to inform us that it would be today. One of the other attendees has a conflict with Saturday, and her needs must be considered first. So, even though we have the arrival of the pod to attend too, we must change our plans. That is how it always is with this group. It's not that I feel the world should revolve around our plans, but the party is for us. Shouldn't our needs have been the deciding factor? Nevertheless, I am staying home to await the pod. I doubt it will even occur to them that maybe Katie should have changed her plans or just not come. 

The noon hour has come and gone. Ken will be home any minute and the pod is still not here. My frustration and annoyance have hit a peak. I would love to go walk it off, but I am here waiting for the pod. 

Minutiae

The tiny bits and pieces seem to be everywhere. They are in every drawer, every Knick knack dish. Just when I think I have it all, I find more. I could spend hours sorting through it or throw it all in a jar and take it with...better yet just toss it and likely never miss it. Is that battery any good? Do I really want to stick my hand into a jar of thumb tacks and tiny brads? 

Karen spent the day sitting on the couch and building boxes. She has a few that are half filled. She told me that she is nearly through with the kitchen. But the drawers and cabinets are still full. She says we aren't taking that with us. But we still need to pack it up to take it to the charity shop. We have three lined up to take it. What they don't want to take we will leave at Goodwill. 

Ken spent the day watching television in his room. It makes me wonder if he doesn't really want to move and is in denial. 

I cleared my closet and bookshelves today. My desk and chest of drawers are more than half done and will be finished tomorrow. I will be done with my part. I have offered my help to Karen, and she was enthusiastic about it. I find my room sad now. But I am looking forward to my new rooms. 

In the new house, there is a back staircase that leads to my area. I will have a large landing where a sitting room can be set up, my bedroom and a bonus room that I will use for crafts. Karen tells me that both rooms are small, but the area is spacious. I am donating or throwing away as much as I am packing. I am not worried about having enough space. 

We will be outside of town, and up on a mountain. The property is six acres, mostly wooded. My cousin has a house there and there is another house where a family lives. Besides them, There are no near neighbors. The town is about five miles away. It has Karen a little freaked out, but it is only a little farther than the distance I travelled to the grocery store in the community I lived in Georgia. She will get used to it quickly. Especially since there is very little traffic there.

I am looking forward to the quietness, and the darkness at night. It will be nice to be able to see the stars.

Countdown

We have three more weeks here. I have been saying a month for a while and it hit me today that time has passed. We have three weeks to pack up this house and move. I don't think Karen and Ken have given notice where they work. I am only half packed and I have considerably less than either of them. My goal is to finish my room this weekend and try to help them. I can at least pack while they sort, but they have to be here to sort.

I bought a map book and decided on our route across the country. Karen finally listened to me about it last night. We are in agreement. The most direct path also is one of the most scenic. 

Maybe this weekend will get everyone going. We are not young anymore. And we don't have the luxuary of time anymore. 

All I can do is get my part done and offer my help with theirs. 

What's the worst that could happen?

Potluck

A half bag of frozen hamburger patties, a couple of chicken breasts, a half bag of broccoli florets, a half bag of California mix, I'm using up the bits and pieces of food that we have tucked in the back of the freezers. Then there are the leftovers from the meals I made with the ingredients above. Dinner tonight looked like a potluck dinner and served on the leftover plates from Thanksgiving. 

I went through the bits and pieces drawer in my room. I packed what I'm keeping but won't need in the next little while. All that is left in the drawer are the things that I need in the next month. I did the same thing with my cosmetics drawer. Those were the two mental roadblocks to packing for me. I was hoping that would give me the umph that I need to start plowing through with the rest of it. I haven't even been here a full six years. I wonder how I accumulated so much stuff.

Karen has a lifetime of things to go through. Ken is in denial and hasn't even started packing yet. It feels like a Herculean feat for three old people to be undertaking. Moving at our age. 

Homeward Bound

 

It's been awhile...

I miss blogging...

I still think blog posts in my head, but they don't end up here...

Blogger doesn't make it easy to blog using an iPad. They don't seem to like Apple users...

And the internet around here is no better than a joke... We spend a lot of time buffering...

Reasons, or excuses? But it's all I have.

The year did not end well. We spent the spring and summer enjoying parties, concerts, ball games, graduations, and art shows. The fall was marked by loss, and sadness. The good loss was of the presence of Nora. After graduating in the spring, she is seeking her master's at the University of Hawaii, and she is loving it. We miss her but are so happy that she is finding her path.

Just before she left, her cat died. A month later Max left us. He'd been sick for a while. Still, his death sent a shock through everyone. His personality set the tone for the household. The loss of his presence is felt. 

Bad news comes in threes. So, a month later the worst loss happened. Our aunt died. Like Max, it was not unexpected but was a gut punch anyway.  She had been living with the early stages of dementia for years. Just before Thanksgiving she developed a kidney infection and died in her sleep while it was being treated. She was one of the YaYa sisterhood that formed our early lives. My mother, her two sisters and a sister-in-law were the village in which we were raised. Her loss leaves our Aunt Joan as the last living sibling in that family. As much as we are grieving, she is devastated. 

And then there was Nov. 5th....

Before the holidays could greet our sorrow and loss we got one more gut punch. Mollie called to tell me that George was at the end of his journey. He'd been a wonderful dog to her, more of a child than a pet. Like Max, the loss of his presence is felt in everything. She asked that I go to Chicago to spend Christmas with her. I could not say no. I went, but with all the sadness and loss it was a joyless holiday. 

It wasn't just Mollie and I who seemed sad and grieving. Everyone seemed to be dealing with loses of their own. Everybody was going through the motions, but nobody's heart seemed to be in it. 

I took the Empire Builder home on December 30th which had me traveling through the New Year. I was feeling a bit off when I got on the train. In the two days I was on it, I came down hard with the flu despite having gotten the shot. By the time I arrived in Seattle, I was in bad shape. I was down for the better part of January. 

The New Year did not start well...

I was pretty much still bed bound when one of our cousins called. Aunt Joan was doing poorly, and it was felt that she was giving up. Our cousin asked if we could come help out. Even though it meant being in Alabama on inauguration day, Karen went. I don't know if it was Karen's visit or just having the family circle around her cheered Aunt Joan up a bit. She has been doing well since then.

We have been talking about moving back to the south rather euphemistically for about two years. We need to help the cousins out with their aging parents...yada, yada, yada...But the truth is that the PNW has become too expensive to live in on Social Security and pensions. With one of our aunts passing away and another needing encouragement to continue, we are feeling the need all the more. But Karen and Ken have been finding excuses to stay. The truth is that choosing to retire is scary, especially when you don't have a nest egg to fall back on. And they don't even have viable pensions. While Karen was in Alabama she talked about our plans. Our cousins are apparently enthusiastic about them. One cousin, John has a house on his property that he needs to rent. It hits everything on our wish list for housing and more. Other cousins have offered cars and furniture to make our joining them more doable. It turns out that we are moving the middle of next month. Our rent will be $1500 less than it is here. Utilities are about a third of what we are paying, and groceries are substantially less. 

Hopefully this will be a turning point for us. In the least, Karen and Ken can afford to retire. As long as we are together, maybe we can weather the coming storm.