I know I have not written since mid May but here's why..

Some thoughts about moving - which is not for the faint of heart.

1. If you are anticipating moving in the next few years - START NOW!!!  Truly, you do not have a minute to waste.  

2.  If you plan to stay for years where you are - STOP SAVING STUFF!  Truly, you are never losing the weight to fit back into that outfit and if you're saving it because it will come back in style, when it does, it will only look outdated, not updated.  Your kids will not want your old stuff - the Salvation Army, I've discovered doesn't even want it- your kids only want your new stuff - like the 50" plasma TV, not the 20 yr old 18" goliath.

3. When the Volunteers of America people break your steps leading out from your basement and your house is having it's pre closing inspection in 3 days, call your realtor.  They want this baby to close almost as much as you do.  It was fixed within 2 hours.

4. DO NOT - I REPEAT DO NOT- give anything you value on loan to men under 40.  This is after our dgt volunteered to hold onto our life sized stuffed dog- the only kind Russell ever wants again - but was reluctant because she was afraid someone- meaning her husband and his friends -  might  toss it off the 11th floor balcony of their Manhattan apt.  I will add that he and his friends all have real jobs and are all responsible adults during working hours. Something happens during off hours.  They are all from Wisconsin.  Draw your own conclusions.  It has found a happy, SAFE home with our friends the Kirschens.

5. Prepared to be surprised by the last thing that's taken out of the house.  I assumed ours would be a duffel.  NO...  It was my 25 yr old raccoon coat.  I have no idea why.  

6.  No matter how organized you are, you will have a few boxes of "miscellaneous stuff" that didn't make it into the right box.  For Russell, this was no problem ... for me it caused agita as my grandmother would say.

7.  Have good friends who will come and help you get the stuff out of the basement that volunteers of America wouldn't take because THEY BROKE YOUR STEPS!  Thank you Michael and Turk.

But we are now done.  The house passed inspection, it closed, money transferred and we are off.  We spent our first night in MA cooking dinner for our niece's family and playing spit with her children. Good little spit player my nephew Adam is becoming and Rachel and Alyssa joined Adam in making us a decadent chocolate dessert.  Today the goal is to read the entire Sunday Times in one day.  More to come.