The Big Move

HD turned 15 and Hadley turned 18.

Babies-

Teens-

HD started his drives for Driver’s Ed, but he has been driving on our property for awhile now and is probably already a better driver than Kate.

Hadley has been working on filling out college applications and absolutely killing me dead while doing so.

Hadley:  Mom?  An I an international student?

For the love.

But then she began inquiring about starting a Roth IRA, so maybe everything will even out.

***

Let’s talk about The Big Move.

Mom and I were scheduled to leave on Sunday, however, Kate became a bit homesick so we adjusted plans to go a day early so we could spend an evening with her on the road, as she was on the way to Auntie Datenut’s.

She is a busy bee and working hard as a CNA at a nursing home/rehabilition center.  She chatted with us about her job and it sounds like she is working her hiney off to make sure she is quickly meeting her patients needs, so that makes me feel so puffed up with pride.  She strongly dislikes having her patients sit in soiled diapers, so I give her two thumbs up!

What a nice gal!

Because of the schedule change, Mom and I had to drive 15 hours in one day, and that is a lot for a couple of old gals such as us.

Also, should we talk about gas prices?

Nah.  Too depressing.

My mom and dad are both originally from Southern California and used to live in the area where Auntie currently resides.  My parents do not completely understand the benefits of GPS and blue tooth and mom came with paper directions from my father.

Like directions.  On a piece of paper.  To read.

Me:  Dad.  I can use GPS and connect to Bluetooth and Siri will just talk to us and take us there.

Dad:  She can talk to you?  Through the stereo?

Me:  Yes.

Dad:  Well, that’s pretty slick!

However, and sadly, my parents do not trust Siri to know the correct freeway routes and have you ever driven in the LA freeway system?  How many freeways do they need?

Over here in our parts we have ONE.

But, I digress.

My parents take this freeway route quite seriously and must shout/talk and take notes.

My dad:  I DON’T CARE WHAT GPS SAYS, GET OFF THE 5 and got to the 210 to the 60 to the 91 to the 15 to the 405.

(That is not what he really said.  I cannot remember.  But he used that many freeways.)

Problem was that father did not have the address for the hotel and so we had Siri rerouting us every five seconds and we ended up lost at a Walmart at 9:30 pm.

I coerced my parents to allow me one try to have SIRI take us there and if we still got lost, we would call dad and get notes.

Siri got us there in five minutes and Sisters Meagan and Jess had dinner delivered to our hotel door and is not that just the nicest?

Mom and I whipped out all of our muscles and helped Auntie pack up her apartment Monday-Wednesday.

On Thursday, David flew in and I picked him up and we went straight to get the Uhaul truck.  The truck was about $400 more than we were originally told, and I tried to fight it and the guy was like:

“Yeah, no.  EVERYONE is moving out of California and we are struggling with equipment.  This is the price.”

So.  That was that.

You know what is stressful?

I’ll tell you.

Loadng a Uhaul and knowing that you are getting on the road with it in just a couple of hours and realizing that all of Auntie’s stuff will not fit in the Uhaul.

So, we started sorting into priority, we loaded all that we could, and we had to trash the rest.

Because, what can you do?

David and I headed for home with the Uhaul and Mom and Auntie left in Mom’s car so they could go at a more leisurely place and stop and visit some sisters.

My mom is one of seven!  Did you know that?

Now you do.

Also, should we talk about gas prices with a Uhual?

Nah.  Too depressing.

David and I got home and the boys helped us unload.  The Uhaul was SO full and as soon as they opened the back, they had to stop several boxes from spilling out.

And then, we unloaded into her apartment and she arrived the next day and now we have a new neighbor!

I am very thankful to David and the kids for helping create this nice living space for Auntie.

We got home from school last night and without being asked, HD went and knocked on her door to check on Auntie to see if she needed anything-and then he fixed something for her.  And that is just plain kind.

***

Spring break is over.  I am back at school.

Here is a cute picture of Rio wishing I was paying attention to her, rather than to bills.

Happy Wednesday!