packing up a lifetime

it is a strange thing

packing up a lifetime of stuff

old stuff

new stuff

used stuff

s-t-u-f-f

piles litter my living room

a pile for give away

a pile of junk in multiple green garbage bags

waiting to go in the heap outside for the big garbage pick-up

i go downstairs

it is cool

the humidifier is on

i feel slight dampness on my feet

the boys come for a third trailer full

furniture is loaded

some furniture is put into the garage for a yard sale

"one person's junk is another one's treasure"

time will tell

ice cold lemonade

juicy red watermelon

the weather is hot

but there is a wind

the boys work hard

carrying out things from the basement that we wished we hadn't put there in the first place

heavy things

(who in the world ever invented those heavy hide-a-beds!)

i am thankful for my guys

my husband

and my sons Josh and Michael

strong men

very very strong

with the truck and trailer pulling off the yard

i sit down with a little snack

and take a few minutes for resting

it is an emotional thing

packing up a lifetime in one place

27 years

in a home that was originally built by Alvin and his dad

where does time go

our kids have grown up here

Josh was one and a half when we moved in

Ashley has known no other home

we have given accommodation to several people in this home during their "home builds"

my sister and brother-in-law

my mom and dad in-law

our kids, Josh and Leah

we have fed people here around our table

many many people

we have made more pots of coffee than we could ever count

we have eaten at the table, cried at the table, laughed and talked at the table

the table represents friendship, family and fellowship

and i am so thankful

all of a sudden the rooms look so big

all of a sudden i see the dust that was lingering under the furniture

all of a sudden i imagine what the walls would say if they could talk

this has been a wonderful place to call home

we raised our kids here

we were able to spend time with our little Everett here

but we are moving onto the next stage in life

at fifty-two, somehow it seems that we are beginning part two of life

i can think about the move

i can talk about it

i can joke about the mess that the house is in right now

heck - I can even sit down and have coffee with my friend who stops by unexpectedly

(she would have helped pack but i wouldn't let her today)

i think i am handling it

after all the move is still just over three weeks away

and yet when i sat down at the table last night with my daughter

and i was thanking God for the meal, for family, for the day

i began to weep

should have known that the emotions are just sitting underneath the surface

waiting to come out

in the meantime i will sort

i will throw out

i will divide and conquer the stuff

and make more bins for the boys to move

in the meantime i will cherish these last remaining days and nights

and as alvin and i settle into bed

which at this point are just the mattresses on the floor

i will thank God

for this home that has been my life

for my husband

for my kids

for my grandsons

for my family and friends

and for my neighbors whom i will miss alot

and as i fall asleep

i know God will seal these memories deeply into my being

to pull out later on those days when i need to smile and remember

how life was from august 6, 1983 until august 1, 2010 at 35066 Springfield Road

till then

as i pack

i will think

i will cry

i will laugh

i will soak up each moment and treasure it in my heart

thank you God