The Move

     My parents drove out for the last time.  I had to admit I didn't like them making that drive as many times as they did, but always grateful.  It was long and my dad didn't really like to stop, but for naps. It made for a hard 24-30hrs for him.  They'd never have to do it again.  When the time came he loaded up our unhappy cat and very excited dog and started the drive back. 

    My oldest was next.  She moved ahead of myself and my little.  She had a studio she was auditioning for competitive dance team and they started this process earlier than our school year ended.  Her and my mom flew out.  Now I had a lot of work to do.  

    The house went under contract a few times, and things shifted, I don't really recall the reasons, as I was still just going through the motions.  He refused to finish any of the projects in the house which meant we probably lost a decent amount of equity.  He was awful about helping with anything that had to do with the house.  I was paying a neighborhood kiddo to mow the backyard.  I had another friend/neighbor hired to help me with cleaning the house, she was a Godsend.  My mom was in and did everything she could to help out from hole patching to touch-up painting.  My little and I packed and purged, packed and purged.  There was so much to be done and a lot of it I had to just let go of.  I simply could not do it all.  He eventually came and did a few minor things, but of course on his time, making it even more stressful.

    The time came at the end of June.  The truck was loaded one box at a time.  Our whole world was either now gone, or in a box.  Next was my car, the transport company loaded it up and we watched them both drive away.  Only thing left to go was us.  We loaded up the Uber and I told myself not to look back.  But I did.  One last look at the home we made together, where so many memories for my girls were made, where I finished my master's, the home I hosted so many parties in, where we sheltered during Covid.  There it stood an empty shell, being left better than we found it.  The driver pulled away and a silent thank you of gratitude was said for all that our home and neighborhood had been to us.