Empty Nesters

As of a week and a half ago, Jamie and I are officially empty nesters. Lindsey and her little Yorkie, Cocoa, packed up and moved to Connecticut where Lindsey is starting her new life with "her Marshall." The minutes leading up to her departure were very sad for me, yet I realize there comes a time when you have to let go. I should add that another love of my life, Caroline, had already moved out of our home, although she is still here in town. My next difficult day will be the one when Jamie and I move to Florida and leave Caroline behind. I won't say anymore about that dreaded day, as I think I've already talked about it in a previous blog post.

Lindsey is doing well -- setting up house and looking for a job. I hope she finds something soon. Cocoa is adjusting to being the only dog in the house. The two dogs that live with me have adjusted to him not being here. I think so anyway -- they haven't said anything to the contrary -- they seem to be doing fine.

We have a buyer for the house here in Columbus. Just keeping our fingers crossed that their financing is approved. In the meantime, I've been busy packing up all the things that I don't need on a daily basis. I really feel like I'm making progress. I have to give credit to "Get-A-Sam," one of those moving companies that drop a large container off for you to load for them to then transport. The company doesn't actually deliver to where we're moving to. Their warehouse is about an hour away from our house in Florida. However, they've agreed to go ahead and drop the container in our driveway. I'm VERY happy about that. That takes a lot of pressure off of an otherwise stressful situation. I never thought that moving from Ohio to Florida would be so crazy, but it is. There are so many details.

In the meantime, I have boxes for moving, boxes of stuff for a garage sale, and junk. I have to start seriously thinking about a garage sale date, and then I'm having 1-800-got-junk come and pick up, well...the junk. I'm surrounded by boxes.

We're still working on some minor projects here at the house. Our buyer is a family member, so we're trying to make certain that the place is move-in ready. It practically is, with the exception of a few odds and ends. And, if something should happen that their financing falls through (which I don't think it will), at least we'll be all ready to put a "for sale" sign in the yard. I've had a blast working on this house over the last couple of years. I can hardly wait to get to Florida and "de-bachelorize" the house there. I might actually break my promise and pick up a paintbrush again. I guess I really do enjoy projects -- sitting still doesn't get it for me.

It looks like the goodbye tour is starting. We're having dinner Saturday evening with very dear friends Chris, Gary, Becky and Jim. Looking forward to that.

Signing off. I'm sure if I look around here I can find something to pack.