07 October 2014

The Move

Hiya Dad,

            Well, I'm happy to report that we got Mom moved this past Saturday, as planned.  It was a cold, windy, threatening-to-rain day, but we did it in about five loads, using my van and the trailers that Charlie left at Herriman Friday night.  The first two loads were trailers full of the big stuff (furniture) and my van full of as much as I could pile in it.  Phil and Cris did the first and third trailer loads alone; Charlie helped with only the second load of furniture (I had to text him to ask for his help ~ apparently "knowing" Saturday was "Baba's moving day" did not mean much to him, but he was moving more of their things into Herriman that very afternoon and completely moved in by Sunday).  No trailers after the third load ~ just my van for all the "smalls".  Because Cris and Phil were busy at Tower setting up beds, furniture placement, and stuff like that (Cris also set up the computer stuff), I loaded and unloaded my van all day; that was quite tedious by the third load because Mom didn't really have enough boxes.  She had a lot of things in those crazy little plastic buckets (they did work, but they are so SMALL!) ~ there must have been 100 of those buckets.  The last load was pantry and refrigerator food.  Cris and I got home around 11:00 that night; I broke the Department 56 snowbaby with the crescent moon ~ but, that was the only thing we broke.  Not bad, really.

            After Phil and Cris and I unloaded the first load, I zipped over to the Farmer's Market to get Bob's bouquet of flowers for Mom ~ I placed them on the dining room table at Tower Ct (we had left Mom at Herriman to continue her packing).  When she came to Tower Ct, and saw the flowers and read Bob's card, she cried.  Happy tears, mostly, at his thoughtfulness and well wishes.  I've had the money for the flowers and the card for about a month; he sent them to me as soon as he knew she would have back Tower Ct, and asked me to get her the flowers for her moving in day.  That is your friend Bob, Dad ~ he is a nice man.

            Gilda and Charlotte came in the afternoon: Gilda completely painted the trim and cabinet in the middle bathroom ~ she did a great job, all white and the cabinet has black detailing hand-painted freehand by her.  She even painted the handles and hinges.  It looks awesome.  Charlotte brought lots of rice krispie treats and watched DVDs while we moved; she was patient and good.  She is such a sweet little girl.

            Of course, Comcast screwed up the internet/telephone account transfer ~ I spent hours on the phone Saturday and Sunday and even Monday morning trying to get all that fixed ~ late Sunday was when I figured out that they had changed Mom's phone number.  Yes, the phone number she's had for 39 YEARS.  That was a crushing blow.  However, I was determined to try (Monday) to get her old number reinstated.  Calls to Comcast on Monday morning did not work; so I took Mom to the one Comcast "store" in Indianapolis and a woman named "Yokeshia" helped us ~ she redid the transfer and gave Mom BACK her original phone number, thank god.

            For the rest of the day, Mom felt very celebratory, and I took her to get the last few things Phil needs to finish up some repairs/renovations (he's coming up tomorrow), and to purchase a few things like door mats and shower caddies.  All good, all happy.  I was so very relieved she is moved, and she is so much happier at Tower Court.  Still, to be honest, I do not feel happy inside: relieved, yes.  Isolated moments feel happy, but Dad, I miss you and I miss Johnny; I still cannot separate the two of you.  Johnny is doing really well in Germany; he started his Library job this week, he has friends, and he is happy (a little homesick, sure, but he is adjusting so very well to being there).  I just miss you both, it is hard to NOT feel "loss" quite intensely.  I hope the intensity fades, but at this point, I'm still not sleeping and I am so very tired in a way that is hard to describe.

            I started two new paintings ~ that always helps me feel better; this one is so far called, "Untitled Landscape in Yellow and Purple" but it isn't finished yet.  

I'm using your canvases.  I miss you.

Love,

Alys