Experience

Friday I left for the Fourth of July, but not for fireworks. I went to help pack for a move. My family moved every 1-5 years through my childhood, and then I moved too. College, work, work, medical school, residency, first doctor job. Second job and I stuck: I have not moved for 25 years. Travel yes, move no. But like Martha, I am thinking about all those books! I am working on cutting them down to size and many fewer favorites.

Anyhow, I have quite a bit of experience packing and moving. When my family moved from upstate New York to Alexandria, Virginia, the movers stacked the plates with newsprint between. Every single plate in the pile broke. My mother was furious. She said the packers should have nested them on their sides, so they don’t break the one below. We shall see if my experience is useful or not.

I bubble wrapped this lamp and then packed it in a big box with more bubble wrap and a lot of t-shirts. Yes, I should take the shade of but it would have required a special tool that we didn’t have. Or a trip to a lamp store. There was not enough time. The moving truck comes Wednesday or Thursday. We were nearly done when I left to drive back to Grand Junction. Newsprint, bubble wrap, a pack for glasses and quite a few boxes. I hope it all makes it!

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: pack.

Moving

Sol Duc and I moved yesterday. The place we were in was billed as having a kitchen. It has a refrigerator, dishwasher, sink and microwave. NO STOVE! AUGH! I could check out a hot plate with one frying pan. I would describe this as a fast food kitchen. Ugh. I like to COOK. I also found a nice farm stand and bought a bunch of vegetables. The farmer said, “Thank your parents for raising you right with vegetables.” Heh. I will go back.

We are now in a small house, at the western edge of Grand Junction, with two bedrooms! Now my daughter can visit again. Sol Duc worried about the ceiling fans and hid under the bed for most of the day. This morning the fans are off and she is exploring. We have a fenced yard, though she won’t go out without harness, leash and me. We are in the southwestern corner of the development and there is another development across the street. It only has three houses, so we have lots of area to wander around. This am we are out at 5 am and can hear roosters from the farm kitty corner to us. And cows. We have a fabulous view of the mesas to the south and west and we are no longer surrounded by parking lot and highways. The local Coloradans seem to really love their pickups and especially loud ones. The valley acts like a bowl and highway sound travels a long way.

We both miss Elwha. Sol Duc was fairly panicked when I loaded the car and put her in the crate. I think she was afraid we were going to drive for three days again. She likes the house though and came out to purr last night. This morning she is exploring. I am keeping the second bedroom closed since my daughter doesn’t do very well with fur.

We still hope that Elwha turns up. Come back, Elwha!

I will go finish checking out today. I had to have Sol Duc out of the room we were in twice a week for an hour, so that they could come in to clean. That was fairly stressful for both of us. The instructions they gave us were confusing and it was eight days before they explained the rules. Which did not match the written rules. Anyhow, I am OUT OF THERE. Some of the staff were really nice. Others, well.

I had more stuff to move than when I arrived, all food. The new place is great though built for tall people. I am not tall. I am now on the lookout for a desk, because all the chair/table heights are wrong for me. I will ask the rental folks first.

My Ex and I used to dance to Saffire, way back in Richmond when I was in medical school. Fabulous and here is a song about rising.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: rise.

Fear

When someone tries to hit me
I fight back
I didn’t worry much in clinic
even when patients yelled
it indicated they were upset
and usually I knew why

Not much fear there.

So what do I fear?

Abandonment
and lies
the one who says they care
that we will be friends
even that they love me
and later walk away

But that has already happened
more than once
and I survive
and the Beloved is still here
and there
and everywhere I am
and everywhere you are
and everything is connected
so there is no fear
and even a chance
that abandoned
I still thrive

____________________

The photograph is from Marrowstone Island in July 2022.

Mundane Monday 188: making a move

The theme for Mundane Monday 188 is making a move.

Do you have a photograph or series of shots about making a move?

Princess Mittens is contemplating her move in the first shot. Next:


Princess starting her move...
Princess starts her move
cat climbing into the lap of the reader
slick move
cat settling in to lap
settling in!

_______________________________

Mondane Munday 187’s theme was warm:

klallendorfer has lots of warm photographs.

Move

M is for Move in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge

Move

Blessings on you

Take care of my heart

I know I’ve left it with someone kind

You don’t have to do anything with it

No giri

No obligation

You can set it anywhere

In a corner where it gets dusty

And covered with sawdust

Under the couch

In the woods

The kids can play catch with it

I don’t care

I am armored up

I am ready

I am ready to move

In the direction that I have chosen

Stand aside, please

I don’t want anyone to be hurt

Power up, armour, sheilds

I pick my sword back up

Obeisance to the Beloved

I move

38314-m