Tuesday, November 17, 2009

But Now it Feels So Strange Out of the Atmospheres

Stinky getting beaned with snowballs by the neighbor kids on her walk home from grade school.

Well, bloody hell, kids. It's been a long night of packing and sorting and cleaning in my world. I know that they say you never know what you've got 'til it's gone, but right now it seems more accurate to say that you never know what you've got 'til you have to pack it and move it. I tackled the huge walk-in closet in the girls' room and to everything I pulled out, someone would say, "Wow. We still have that?" I'm sure that will be even worse after I've had a garage for a couple of years.

I'm at that point where I'd be happy just to toss everything, rather than move it. Luckily, most things are boxed up, so I don't get rid of stuff like this year's tax documents or my high school and college diplomas or the girls' birth certificates.

I think I'm going to ask to take off work a couple of hours early tomorrow, so I can stop by Goodwill and the recycling center, before they close and while it's still light out.

Coadster goes to her dad's tomorrow night and then leaves for All State in Ames on Thursday afternoon, so this is her last night at this house. We've been here for eight years, so it feels kind of weird for all of us. But we're on to a new adventure, and life is always better with a new project and and a new adventure... At least as far as I'm concerned, anyway.

12 comments:

rel said...

Churlita,
Most of us are pack-rats I think. Moving frequently forces us to be active in accumulating or discardeing. We've lived in this house since 1975........
My youngest, when home for visits, says: get rid of this STUFF before you die, so we (he and his siblings) don't have to deal with it.
The books however will go to my daughter's house; this I know!

Here's to new adventures.
rel

Poptart said...

Wow - wow! Good luck to C at Ames and good luck to you all in your last nights!

Susan said...

I'm so excited for you! Hopefully alls going well today.

Tara said...

How do the girls feel about moving into a new place after 8 years? Do they have mixed feelings or are they completely excited about the new place?

laura b. said...

I remember how hard it was to leave the house we rented for 14 years. But on to bigger and better things! What an exciting time for you all.

booda baby said...

Oh, I don't know about that Goodwill stop. Whenever WE swing by, we end up with more than we took in. Which is ALWAYS super fun around here.

I'm really happy you've still got a happy attitude and, apparently, energy to spare. I honestly wish I was there to help. It's my favorite part of helping someone move - helping them discard.

this new place said...

looove the picture!

jenny said...

I'm going through a weird phase now where I want to get rid of everything I own, mostly so that I can keep my damn apartment clean.

Good luck with the move - I think a change of scenery is always exciting.

And that is seriously the best photo ever!

NoRegrets said...

Good luck!!!!
And what a great photo.

Mnmom said...

Have to admit that although I didn't want to move, the subsequent purge was refreshing and very much needed. And I've truly enjoyed watching the new systems emerge, and seeing art in places I hadn't imagined, etc. Change is GOOD!!!!

MrManuel said...

Packing sucks, but I actually think that unpacking is even worse. I HATE putting stuff away

Johnny Yen said...

I've lived in the same place for 11 years-- two marriages, seeing my son go from a four year old who was pre-reading to a kid reading Paul Krugman's books. And all the while, I swear to god, the crap in the basement is mating and multiplying. Despite two huge moveouts involving several truckloads to the Salvation Army plus and large haul to the garbage after a flood, my side of the basement I share with my landlord is impossibly crowded. God knows what I'll find when we finally move out. Jimmy Hoffa? All the stuff that's been lost in the Bermuda Triangle? Sadaam's WMD's?

Good luck with the move!