moving and what comes along with it....

These days I'm dealing with the frustrations that come with moving--not only the challenges of high estimates from moving companies but also the decisions about what to take, what to sell, and what to pawn off on family. But on top of this there has been a backlash of negative energy and lack of support from family who live thousands of miles away! Even my brother in Florida was less than enthusiastic. With the exception of my daughter, the family who live here have been circumspect in their comments. And the past day or so, even my daughter is coming around--(I attribute this to a new relationship she's started, but hey, whatever works!) I certainly understand feeling sad. I've made a lot of good friend here and I'm close to my family so it's a wrench for me as well.

I lie in bed at night processing the things people are saying, and trying to sort out what is going on with them...first it's the guilt trip about leaving people behind who to my way of thinking are old enough to take care of themselves--(and oddly this isn't coming from the ones who are being left behind) Then comes the list of venomous creatures in Arizona that, apparently, are just waiting for our arrival. According to them the place is crawling with scorpions, black widows and rattlesnakes. What about the 14 species of hummingbirds, the sandhill crane festival in Wilcox, all the other unusual bird species that reside in the Sonoran desert? And what about the magnificent Saguaros? What about embracing something new? or am I too old to do that...

This astrological time we're in now is similar to the 60's when everything got turned on its ear. I'm as surprised as everyone else that I'm leaving the place I've lived for fifteen years--leaving several family members and two grandchildren. Even writing this brings up a sliver of guilt. In the past I've loved visiting Arizona and New Mexico but didn't like the brightness and my skin didn't like the dry. I've gone on about how the wet climate up here keeps the wrinkles at bay. But on this visit my skin was fine, the sun was pure pleasure...the Catalina mountains took my attention, turning me inward to a place of silence. And those ochre mountains remain in my mind, cloud shadows racing across their peaks, their ancient crags full of magic. My husband has assured me that he will go without me if necessary! He has a sparkle in his eye as he says this and I see his younger self appear over the edge of the deep rut he's been in for several years.

The truth of it is we will be back up here for at least two months in the summer--the heat down there becomes intolerable during July and August, or so we've been told. Our RV will serve as our second home. I've already made tentative arrangements to fly my daughter and grandchildren out during the Christmas holiday...And so I ask--why is change so hard for people? I have my own answers but I would love to hear yours.

moving...and other horriblenesses

The reason I haven't posted for so long is that my husband and I have spent the past 9 days moving out of our house--we put it on the market thinking it would take months before anything happened but we were wrong! although we were thrilled to have a buyer we have also been overcome with sadness at leaving a place that was a sanctuary--quiet and surrounded with cedars and firs. The ordeal of moving has left both of us exhausted both psychically and physically.

The movers came on thursday with what I thought was an extremely large truck--turns out it wasn't nearly large enough. When five o'clock rolled around we were all spent and decided to call it a day--but their contract with us said that they would get it all done in one day! Consequently we rented a U-haul for the next day with their promise that they would load and unload-- unfortunately we had to settle for a 17 footer which meant two trips that weren't completed until 11 that night. We managed to cram everything from our 3800 sq. ft. house into a 2500 sq. ft. space but boxes are precariously balanced on one another-and where is the cord for the telephone?

Our plan after schlepping heavy boxes up an down stairs for many days is to spend the winter going through things and getting RID of everything we don't need or love!!!! We have both learned a valuable lesson--just because you have the space doesn't mean you have to fill it up! (we've learned many other lessons as well, like bend your knees when lifting and plan where things go BEFORE the movers bring it through the door)

The movers were truly wonderful--cheerful despite fatigue and low blood sugar, patient to a fault. Today I managed to get into our new garden--putting up my bird feeders and trying to create the oasis I had at the other house--we only moved from Portland, Or. to Vancouver, Wa. but it feels like we are in another country. Instead of our quiet private house at the top of a hill, we are next to a main street with life all around us. We can walk to restaurants and shopping. I'm personally glad for the change--we were getting into a rut which we've been bounced out of...Life is good now that the move is OVER.