Movin' on up

Moving has never been something I've liked to do and I've avoided it as much as possible. However, after being laid-off it was necessary so I decided instead of renting a UHaul and making one big haul in this heat I was going to load my SUV each weekend and move the majority of my "stuff." I was a fool. This is what brothers are for. Right? They'd say no ... but in my mind I'm right.

Before I left I said one last goodbye to a former customer who you've read about from my "Tuesdays."
Layla: Guh, wheh you been? They say you lef. Why you not caw?
Donna: I've been busy packing, and I didn't leave, they laid me off.
Layla: Tha not what I's tol. They say you jus lef. Hell of note.
Donna: I'd never do that. So how's it going?
Layla: New ga scayed of the hood.
Donna: Give him time. It'll get better.
Layla: He don unstan cindarellas and stuff. You unstoo.
Donna: It took me time. I was sorry to hear about your son's death.
Layla: I's been baa, real baa, Mz. Donna. Bro' my heart.
Donna: I'm sorry but want you to know I'm thinking about you.
Layla: Preciate ya guh and miss ya. Be good or I leave hood and fine ya.
Donna: Appreciate you too girl. I'll be around.
Layla: Nah, but i's all good.

My last load was huge. Lauren's boyfriend piled my truck full. I put the babies in the front seat and headed to T-town. Once again, I sweated in this awful heat hauling it all inside. Since then I've separated items for a yard sale and the rest I've tried to fit into a much smaller space. There have been sad moments and times when memories flooded back. Tears flowed but it's all behind me now.

I'm starting over again at 52 and have no idea what's ahead. Before I married I'd built a small apartment area off my mom's house and that's where I'm living. Guess I knew I'd be coming back one day.

I've had a couple of dates and am not sure I fit in that world. I'm too honest and courteous to date. What's so hard about telling the truth? You don't even want me to go on about the subject of dating.

But I came back with two Jack Russells and left a precious daughter behind. I miss her a lot and feel empty without her, however it's time for her to go forward with her life. She began a career and has a new love in her life. A few days after I left the AC quit and she handled that well. I just hope I did my job as a mom and prepared her for life.

This past week I've pretty much settled in and the babies are getting used to their new surroundings. All I have left to move are a few items of furniture. Oh brother, where art thou?