Where did March go?

Where does life go?

I had plans for March.

But the best plans often go awry. What I didn’t plan was the rental house we were living in to be sold and being given a month to move out. And then I didn’t plan deciding to move out March 17 instead of March 31. And I didn’t plan on all four of us getting that nasty bug that left us in coughing fits.

I was going to run a race on March 17.

Instead I spent the day going up and down three flights of stairs – moving out of the rental house into an apartment. We took only our couch, a table and chairs, some dishes, beds and clothes. Feels a little like we are camping. Last Saturday, we went to see the Hunger Games and afterward both teens remarked that living in an apartment isn’t as bad as they thought it was.

On March 23, Bryan and I took Bailey to the vet. He hadn’t been eating, was having a hard time walking and had a huge sore on his leg because he was chewing on it. We decided – after much going back and forth – it was time to put him to sleep. Julie and Kevin Palmer at Silver Creek Animal Clinic are awesome. Julie – can’t thank her enough for listening to me sob. The vet came in, explained the process and then gave Bailey a shot that put him to sleep right away. He was resting his head on me when the vet gave him the final shot.  If watching him die wasn’t a challenge, it was even harder telling Blake who was mad at us because he didn’t get to say good-bye. He was rather stoic – fighting back the tears. Bryan told Kate who was also mad at us for not telling her what we going to do so that she could have driven to say goodbye to him. After crying a bit, she went to the store, got two candles for her and Blake to light in Bailey’s memory and a picture frame for a photograph of Bailey.

I miss Bailey. He was a wonderful dog, protective, kind, lovable…. It seems odd to come home and he’s not here to greet us.

After not having internet since March 17, - we had to make the switch from house to apartment – it’s running again. And that means I need to get serious and start writing again and to start exercising.

Here’s to a better April.

Easiest and most priceless things to pack

As I wrapped my Waterford crystal sugar bowl in a lace tablecloth, I felt Martha on one shoulder and my Grandma Constance on the other whispering to one another – who taught this girl to pack? What is she thinking? Can you believe the manner in which she has packed her good dishes? What is she thinking?

One would think if you do something enough times that you would become good at it. This will be the second time I have moved in less than a year – first from Silverton to Wilsonville in September and now from house to apartment in Wilsonville and since we only signed a three month lease, I will  have to move again.

Every time I pick up an object to pack it away, I look at and wonder why? Why am I keeping this? What value does it add to my life? Is it worth packing, unpacking and packing again? Will I miss it if it stays in storage for three months?

Most of my nice dishes, old books, furniture and paintings are hand-me-downs from both sets of grandparents. There are a few objects like the vase with the shamrocks, a painting from England, some teacups, a wicker basket, a wooden duck, a steamer trunk and my old books that I hope my kids keep and then their kids keep…

But more importantly what I hope my kids keep are the memories associated with the items. The wicker basket was my Grandma Christine’s that she used to bring homemade pies to family dinners. I now use it to go to the library, bring food to family dinners or go to the farmers’ markets.

As I pack again, I am determined to keep only what brings value to my life. The rest will be given away to family and friends, donated or sold. There's something refreshing about lighting my load. 

As I sit on the couch, I am listening to Kate and Bryan in the garage playing basketball and Kate telling Bryan thank you for shooting with her and then Blake and Kate talking about going to the store and Blake asking Kate to take him and his two friends to one of the boy’s house. These are not monumental moments. But there are moments of love and kindness.

Moments to pack away and keep. Moments more priceless than anything I own that can be packed away in a box.