July 1st - We officially move in! Well, not yet. I have to return the truck to Penske; luckily, the lot is only a few blocks from the hotel. But I have to return it with a full tank, so while Jen prepares the pets for our final trip, I go out in search of diesel fuel. When I return, everyone is ready to go, but this is going to be a little different - we had all of the "kids" in a big truck cab and now they all have to fit in a little Ford Escort. A little Ford Escort that is already packed full of other stuff. With some resourceful planning, everyone gets in except me - I have to drive the truck. Jen follows me over to the Penske dealer, and after a few minutes of truck inspection and a receipt, I come out to find Jen in tears. I think that everything has finally caught up with her - it's been a long trip, it's hot outside, 4 animals are squirming around...she is overwhelmed and tired. I feel so bad for her, and I tell her to relax and I will do the final driving up to Palmerton. The GPS is already set up for the trip, and we head to what will be our home.
Remember what I said about the state of the house, with all of the boxes and furniture shoe-horned in? We pull up in front and Jen sees the place for the first time - she likes it! Well, that's a good start, but I'm shaking inside, because I know what's coming next. She was a little overcome when we left Allentown...what will she be like when she opens the front door and sees...?
Unfortunately, I had called it right, and Jen is in tears. Her plan had been to be there during the unloading, and to supervise where everything went. And that didn't happen, so I convinced her that I would do my best to make sure her wishes were carried out. And I failed, miserably! There is enough room to walk from the front door through the house to the kitchen, and that is about it. The kitchen is full of boxes. There is no place to sit. I don't even want to take her upstairs. I forgot to mention that the house came with ramps leading up the front door, and inside there is a electric chair lift so she can navigate the stairs. Thankfully, the chair lift is working, and after what seems like an eternity of disappointment in my failings as an unloading supervisor, we head upstairs. This isn't much different. Both bedrooms are packed full of boxes. I did manage to leave enough space for the bed, which is still standing vertical against the wall. It's like a maze, and now both of us are wondering why we didn't get rid of more stuff before we came up here. Jen is so disappointed in this situation, and all I can do is try to defuse the moment by telling her that "this too shall pass." I tell her that it just looks bad right now, that in a few days, everything will get better, that I will be working my a** off to make sure she is comfortable. Not much consolation, but my contrition helps a little.
About Noon, Annie and Amanda show up. And immediately start to make Jen feel a little better. Amanda tears into the kitchen, and between the two of them, most of that room gets put away and re-arranged. While they're at it, I sneak upstairs and set up our bed - get it put in place, make it up with padding, sheets and blankets and pillows. I want to make sure that when it comes time for Jen to rest up, she has a place to go and hide and relax. Yesterday, when we started the unloading, the first thing I did was carry the small 8,000 BTU A/C upstairs and install it in the bedroom window - I wanted to make sure that at least our bedroom was cool. Now it's running it's little heart out, and the room is wonderfully comfortable. I'm not going to tell Jen. I'm going to let her come up and find out what I've done.
And she does, and at least I have gained a bit of a reprieve from my failure to keep the house in order yesterday. The kitchen is in fairly good shape, but there are still boxes all over the place, and we both know that it's not going to be cleaned up overnight. It's been a long trip, but now the real work is starting - making this house our home.
We are moved in, and will spend the first night of many to come in our new bedroom. The 8,000 BTU A/C I put in has the room nice and cool. And we are ready to collapse once again. It's been a really long day. But...we have 4 animals who now need our attention. We have set up the kitty corral in the 2nd bedroom (soon to become my den), and have their kitty boxes, water and food there. We have kept them contained all day as we have gone about trying to make the place liveable, and now it's time to open the doors and let them roam around and explore. Meanwhile, Sandy and Sasha need to be taken out and walked, and I have no idea where I will take them. I've barely been out in the back, but on the leashes they go, and out the back door. I learn that there is a small alley behind the place, and across from that a stream, so I head there. It's a rather pleasant stroll, and the dogs are in scent-heaven. There are squirrels and rabbits back here (I find out later), and after taking their timely poops, they start to explore. I will find out a week later that this was a bad idea - it appears to be tick season in PA, something we never had to worry about in Florida. Later that night, as we are preparing for bed, I feel something on my arm, and discover a tick. Now, these things cannot be destroyed with anything less than a hammer, and after trying to contain the sucker (literally), I put it on desk and smash it with a knife handle. This is not something I want to face. I can deal with a lot of things, but not ticks. Later, we take Sasha to the local vet for a check-up (regarding some other issues), and we get both her and Sandy a flea and tick preventive. Now we only have to figure out how to keep them off of us.
But we are here, and we are ready to spend our first night in Palmerton. The room is cool, the naimals are all put in for the night - Sasha on her sleeping pad next to our bed and Sandy in her crate. The cats know where everything is. Jen and I thank God for getting us here in one piece, and for our new home, and we thank Him for each other. Jen had spent the last 6 months packing and preparing for this move, and now she is facing the daunting task of un-packing everything. Well, it ain't going to happen, because we figure out that, hopefully, after a year here we will find a permanent home to purchase, and then we will un-pack these boxes. For now, we will live on the basic necessities, opening other boxes only as needed. Everything else goes into a closet, the basement or the attic.
We are home! Thank you, Lord!
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