On The Move

Tuesday Slices of Life, according to Betsy at Teaching Young Writers, are served by Stacey and Ruth every week at Two Writing Teachers.  It's a good time to visit!   


This will be the start of something big!  At least for me, right now, Dec. 11th.  I've been in my new house (home) for two days.  I'll be writing about this move for a while, and two weeks before Christmas is not exactly the time for a big move, yet, I did it!  I am grateful for

friends: helping move all my kitchen and art, and others who unloaded the attic several weeks ago

packers: so kind and ensuring that everything was packed safely & prepared

movers: who worked fast & tirelessly from 9am to 7pm, lifting, loading, then un-loading.  Finally, moving a few things again per my direction so I could access certain boxes first, etc.

family: helped through these past months supporting, working, calling

colleagues: asking often how things were going

finally:  service workers, who changed the cord on the stove I brought because it didn't fit the plug here, who showed me how the water heater worked when I didn't have hot water (the former owners had evidently turned it off to save energy), and the person who set up my cable, phone and internet service.

             All helped with expertise, cheer, patience and kindness.  I am so grateful.

      I visited my husband early yesterday morning and it took about 7 minutes to get there!  I am going to work this am; it will take about 5 minutes.  My daughter and oldest granddaughter Ingrid came by yesterday, and took me out to dinner. Ingrid goes to her preschool about 17 blocks north!  It took about 3 minutes to arrive at the restaurant.

      Sorry this is so filled with minutiae, yet it's those little things, as many of us say again and again, that are meaningful to our lives.

For now, a few photos of organized chaos.

Ch, ch, ch, CHANGES

     Every week, Ruth and Stacey host Slice of Life Tuesday on their Two Writing Teachers blog.  Come check out everyone's slices!

Stacey Shubitz wrote a blog post Sunday that touched me about keeping busy, or not, and planning with more attention to needs, and with a further link to another blogger that expanded the reasoning of handling all that one puts on to-do lists.

Stacey began with looking at lists with the following headings:

Needs

Wants

Shoulds

Musts

Coulds

Mights

             She further asks why not look at the mights, wants and coulds first, instead of the musts and shoulds. 

             And then asks if we might look at needs differently, look at them first! 

             As some of you might have read, I am moving, in a couple of weeks!  I am fortunate that I do not have to vacate my house all at once.  I’ve already closed on my new home, and am moving some things a little at a time.  It is very close to my work, so every day for a couple of weeks I’ve moved some things in, to help with the big move later.  I do have movers hired, but am trying to move many things first, both to make it easier on the “un-packing” and on the “expense”. 

Moving Day - Coming Soon

         Thanks to Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading for hosting Poetry Friday today.  Drop by to see what others are sharing!

            Almost exactly two months ago I visited a library near my school, and thought I would drive around the neighborhood.  Oh my!  I found a house that I liked and called a realtor whose name I had kept.  Through personal soul searching and persistent paperwork I now own this house.  I may write about it later, but now I only want to share that I am moving in a couple of weeks.  I am leaving my home of thirty-four years.  I am crazed, sad, excited, exhilarated, nostalgic, and hopeful. 

The Perils of Going To The Library!

The Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by Ruth and Stacey at Two Writing Teachers.  Come see what others share from the slices of their lives!  Come visit!

      Near my school is a Denver library branch, and I’ve started the habit of placing books on hold, then when I’m notified I go to pick them up.  A week ago last Friday I stopped in to pick up an audio book, got back in the car, and thought I’d drive around the neighborhood.  Remember, I have been thinking of moving, especially to be closer ‘into’ the city, to be near my daughter and family and nearer to my work.  

       However, I’ve not been in a hurry, slowly cleaning things out, looking at next year perhaps.  I’ve been in this same house for 34 years.  When one knows a place so long, it has become an intimate relationship.  I know what part of the upper hall squeaks when walked upon and I know which drainpipe tends to slip out of its connection after some bad weather.  I know which sink drains slowly.  I see my children’s ghosts everywhere in memories of their growing up. I see my husband and I sitting at our built-in booth.  And, I know that if I sit on the front porch very quietly, I will often have one of my neighbor sparrows come sit with me. 

I know.

Future Thoughts

The Tuesday Slice of Life happens each week on the Two Writing Teachers blog, hosted by Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz.  Come by to see what's happening in everyone's lives!

      Sometimes poems just arrive, little slices of my life.  Some of you who read my posts regularly know that I am making some life changes, I am cleaning things out of my house, preparing for a move sometime in the future.  I want to be nearer to my daughter and family and to my school. 

      I’ve lived in my house for 34 years and although I do not save everything, my husband has saved quite a lot, some of which are good collections and some that needs throwing out.  So, I’ve started, and I have no pressure from anyone to make big changes like a move, yet this poem kind of appeared a few days ago.  I think this poem is telling me to slow down, be patient, and the right time will come.