It's Your Move

Last week end Sarah and Alan moved. I told them some time back I would help. Me and my Chevy truck. I expected it to be quite an experience. An under statement. basically, I have never moved. Now I know why.
I lived in the same house the first 17 years. I took a small valise, and joined the USAF. (Some move huh?) Three years later with the same valise I moved to a room in New Brunswick. When I married I took my clothes and moved to Wellington Place with my in laws. A year later I bought the house where I am writing this nonsense. I went three houses down the street. Moved all we owned by hand. I will never move.
I went to my daughter's house at 6:00 AM Sunday morning. We drove non stop to Wilmore Kentucky. Got there at five o'clock PM. A and S had the 16 foot Pensky almost loaded. We filled the back of the Chevy with boxes. Also the front seat of both trucks. A and S's car. I don't know how they figured it so close. Nothing left to pack, and no room to put it.
Monday morning after the Realtors walk through we left caravan style for Dayton Ohio. Alan and Sarah first, me in the middle, Mary driving the 16 footer. Me bringing up the rear. I had the address in my GPS, Mary had map quest, A and S had been there before. High hopes. Blue skies, sunny, all is well.
Some where in north Kentucky we hit a storm. rain, high winds lightning. It looked to me like a tornado sky. We got separated. Alan called me on my cell. I got back on track, but we never got together again. With the weather, road construction, it was every one for themselves.
I got to 3004 Martel drive first.Then Mary, and finally A and S. The real estate lady came right on time. We went to the office for the closing. Then back to 3004 to start unloading. Alan was lucky. He had three or four friends lined up to help. One of them actually showed up.
A and S had a good plan. We stopped to eat. Just kept unloading. Box after box, etc. I lasted until about nine PM. The rest of the crew went on til two in the morning.
Tuesday we put the finish on the unloading. Took the Pensky back, and headed for High Bridge NJ.
It was an experience I will remember for a long time. It was nice to spend so much time with my daughter Mary. We had lots of real talks. I got to know my great grand child Lucy. She is a real charmer. She calls me Grandpa Howie. I even got to hold Iris. Would I do it again? Yes of course. When they get settled, Cathy and I are going out to visit them.
When you think of it, Alan and Sarah did a bang up job on the planning. Moving into another state, to a house you don't even legally own yet. Packing, unpacking the trucks. Making sure we all had something to eat, a place to sleep. Even shower facilities. And do it all in a little over two days.
My hats off to the both of you. I can't tell you how much I admire, and love you both.

Still Walking

I try to make six miles a day. Sometimes in two parts. My favorite spot is going through down town Highland Park. Passing the same way time and again you begin to see familiar faces. The first several times you pass, you make eye contact. Then comes a "Hi". Maybe later,"nice day". Some even stop for a small chat. I met a Spanish lady who stopped every time we met. Very friendly. I ran into her in Dunkin Donuts. We exchanged pleasantries. Don't even know her name. But we talked for ten minutes.

Several people are fixtures. I see them almost daily. One man is Ira. Nice enough man. Dressed fairly well. Stopped me many times to chat. Then asked me to loan him five dollars. I gave him two. I told him my name. He said he would repay me. Now he calls me Howie, and asks for a loan. I usually give him one or two.
Another fixture is an old Polish guy. I must have passed him scores of times. Never said boo. Never smiled. No eye contact, Then one day in a parking lot, he saw me getting into my truck. "Hey he said" in a thick accent. "Why you not walking" We chatted for about five minutes. Told me all about himself. Now when we meet we stop to chat.
Last week, I heard foot steps. Keeping the same pace as me. I thought, speed up or slow down. I like to do it alone. Then I heard a sweet feminine voice "Where you going" it said. I looked. She was young. I told her I was going to B B Big coffee shop. We went about six blocks together. She was a post grad student walking to the Cook College lab. What a nice visit. When I turned off we stopped for a while to finish our exchanges.
There are more stories. I'll save them. I wonder how long I'll have to go through Highland Park before I become a fixture?