The idea of moving is downright scary and horrific. And funny, during the daylight you feel so brave and it seems so do-able. But then you climb into your nest at night, tucked under the covers in the dark, and you wonder, “What the heck am I thinking? I must be crazy. This is my home. How can I possibly leave? I can’t do this all by myself.”
Fast forward ten steps. You’ve made the decision (which is a whole ‘nother post, or two, or three). And you’ve even told people you’re moving (!), which is both the kiss of death as well as the first step in making it happen. New questions face your every moment…. hard-to-answer-questions.
How many boxes will I need? What sizes? Where do I get them? What stuff do I pack first? And what if the decision is a mistake?
You’ll get all kinds of advice……… “Do one room at a time.” “Have a yard sale.” “Don’t have a yard sale.” “Stage everything in one place.” “Rent a dump truck.” “Let me help you.”
All is well intentioned. But sometimes it’s just better to put those boots on and wade through the muck on your own. In a way it’s almost therapeutic. Going through the stuff that’s been living in the corners of closets, packing the never-read-books, and finding things you’ve long forgotten about.
The toughest thing is actually holding your stuff over the trash pile and letting something fall into it. But that’s what brings the biggest reward the next day. And if you’re like me, with so much on your mind, by the next day, or even the next hour, you’ve forgotten what you tossed, and you feel lighter. Almost like losing some extra pounds! Trust me.
The one question…….. “how do you pack an umbrella?” That question became almost metaphoric. Packing an umbrella seemed impossible, as impossible as moving from a 4-story, 200-year-old house I dearly loved. So I knew the umbrella was the key as it stared at me from it’s lovely ceramic holder at the front door. It just didn’t fit into a box, and I’d have to figure it out.
The day before the moving truck arrived……. Yes!…. Wrap the two golf umbrellas, three cool wooden yardsticks, antique putter, and random cane with the brass duck-head handle together in an old throw from the sofa. Then use your 18th roll of packing tape at both ends (around and around and around), and once in the middle. Voila. There you go. (And don’t forget to ask the mover guy to put it in a safe place, with a smile and a thank-you)
Everyone has an ‘umbrella’ that challenges you during the moving process. These are the questions that don’t seem to have answers. Is your ‘umbrella’ tangible? Or is it emotional?
It all comes down to faith…… in yourself, and in the universe. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and pack another box. Just one foot…… I promise.
More on this later……. ♥