Home

I sit here in our comfy living room, with the DISHWASHER running (I cannot contain the elation about that one), evening cool breeze as Kev goes all domestic on the kitchen floor and it's starting to feel, well, like home.

The past two months have been full of excitement, preparations, tears, exhaustion, goodbyes, check lists, cleaning, packing, more goodbyes and a HUUUUUUGE road trip.  Not to mention, but really to mention, unpacking our house, learning the area, finding furniture (I <3 Craigslist), finding schools and childcare, starting said schools, new jobs, new friends, new parish,  new, new, new!

I've been putting off posting for a while because, as my all-or-nothing tendencies influence me so, I wanted to make one gigantic post from departure to trip to current state.  Since that's just not happening, I'm going to do an installation starting from the beginning, so bear with me.  :)

Packing up our 500 sq. foot apartment and additional storage unit was a yeoman's task, and one the we could not have surmounted if it were not for our dear loves.  My mom was with me almost every day of the last week and a half before departure helping to pack, purge and organize.  Mama and Papa came to help for a weekend to tend kiddos and help with the falderall.

It's amazing the things one uncovers in a move.  Like the old NDE letters that seriously made me cry, or an unopened cheese stick in the dark recesses of the arm chair, lovely decor and furniture long gone unused in the storage unit that now finally has a home, loose change, love letters, werewolf masks, candles.....

Our day to leave was Thursday morning 9:30, July 26th. Of course our planned departure time was a pie in the sky and we ended up leaving at 12:30, but that was a built-in given.

I blame the junk bunnies.

Even when packing is so near the end, it seem that the last bits of random junk multiplies overnight, providing copious progeny to go through before departing.  I kept wanting to toss it all into the Goodwill bin or trash without thinking.  Thankfully, those in a slightly more rational state (thank you, Mom), encouraged me to just trudge through and be sure we weren't trashing anything of import.

My Village/South Bend community, how you buoyed me! Childcare, sorting clothes, sharing wine, cheering on, comical relief and constant support are just a few of the various and sundry gifts you offered to help in our departure.

 Simone, for your encouraging words, determination to make things as peaceful as possible, for always checking in on me to make sure I took breaks and enjoyed the moments: thank you.

Sarah E., for welcoming my dynamic duo into your flock as if they were your own and giving me  focused work time: thank you.

 Moire, for your endless hard work and enthusiasm: thank you.

Angela, for your encouragement, party planning, lending your husband for the insane job of arranging our truck and capturing the photobombing grandma on film: thank you.

Julie, for bringing the kids for a last trip and offering your super-calming presence: thank you.

Sarah S. for the awesome party planning, checking in and also lending John for brute strength and organizing: thank you.

Crystal and Don, for your boxes and meals and joviality and general wonderfulness: thank you.

Julia and Tom, for the late-night spackling and packing teamwork and comic relief: thank you.

Alicia, for coming to help late into the night even amidst your grueling schedule: thank you.

Chris, for the fellowship, trip snacks, packing help and support: thank you.

Mama and Papa, for making the trip up to lend extra hands, packing help and peace of mind: thank you.  

All you sweet kiddos, for your companionship for Jacob and making life joyful:  thank you.

Our team of loved ones were up and at 'em early to help with the last push.  After all of the hype and preparations, the actual goodbye to our dear E20 was somewhat ant-climactic.  I was ready, it was time.

Good byes to my people, now that's a whole different story. 

On came the all-out soul-shaking deluge of tears. 

How do we say goodbye to the dear Village, which had been our home for 7 years, 2 children, 2 degrees, innumerable belly laughs and tears, conflicts and make-ups, Monday Night Dinners and Project Runway girls' nights, overnight guests, clogged toilets, heart-to-hearts, midnight baby snuggles, tornado parties, bonfires, hookah tree, and all other challenges and gifts?

How do I say goodbye to my home of 30 years?  My family?  My roots?

Apparently we do it with waterworks, hugs, laughter, tears, pictures in the truck,  more hugs, and a Chinese grandma photobombing:

I must say, this was incredibly hard, sad, hopeful and exciting rolled into one.   Saying farewell to my soul friends and family= HORRIBLE!!! 

Yet we felt ready to forge a new path, experience the gorgeous (I'm talking paradise here, people) weather of SoCal, have an actual income and health insurance and other grown-up things.  Ready to leave my nest of 30 years and Kevin's of 13 and our littles' of 6.5 and 2.5, we reluctantly got into the car.

As we finally pulled away from the Village, our sweet clan of children flew like the wind behind us, on foot, bicycle and glee, hastening our goodbye in a love-wrapped escort. 

You can imagine my gratitude when, on our way to Winnebago, NE,  I browsed through the pictures of the day and found these:

I love you too, dear ones.  I love you too.