Thursday, 7-24-08

It’s my last night in the house. I woke up early and got back to work, frantically boxing things up. Mid-morning, Nathan and Carey and their friend Chris arrived with a rented truck and began emptying the house of the last of his things, and then they tackled the garage. For five years Nathan used the garage as storage for his company, and as a work area, and a shipping space, and it was filthy and stuffed with discarded boxes and plans and ideas. They cleaned it all out, retrieved things that I was pitching and added them to their pile for the dump, and loaded it all on their truck. They cleaned the whole garage, and now it’s spotless. I still can’t find words to express how grateful I am that he took total responsibility for all that and got it done. I would never have been able to do it along with everything else. I am so, so thankful to them.

Mid-afternoon, Kurt arrived and began helping me box the last of the hanging clothes. Soon after came my neighbors, Chriswell and Angela and their daughter Carli. Then Carrie Taylor. Then my friend Kevin. Then Carrie’s boyfriend, Blair. They attacked the living room, which the packers had left full of boxes, and we loaded up the 4 cars and did 3 caravans over to the new place, depositing things in their respective rooms and the garage. Everyone eventually drifted off, and Kurt and I came back to the old house for pizza and beer. I had another 3 people text or call tonight, to see if I needed anything.

These people have saved my world. They are so proud of me for landing such a great new home for me and lp, so perfectly sized and so ready for our happy family. My heart is so full.

Wednesday, 7-23-08

This morning my agent called and said the buyers are insistent: I have to be out of the house by midnight Friday, or there’s no deal and no closing. I spent the day freaking out, canceling my trip tomorrow to New Orleans, and transferring utilities. I’ve spoken to tons of people, all of whom have asked me, “Why are they doing this?!” I don’t know. There are a couple of guesses, like maybe they’ve upped the ante to push me into breach of contract so they can back out without forfeiting any money. But why they would do this now, after keeping their offer open for five months, I cannot explain. Whatever the reason, I have the same challenge.

I reminded myself to breathe throughout the day, and when I felt myself shutting down I called Erika. She canceled her after-work plans and said she’d meet me at 5:30. After work I went to pick up the keys to my new place, because Thank God, they could turn it over to me immediately. From there I went to meet Erika, and since I got there first I immediately ordered a very large martini. Erika came and we started to go through it all, then I looked up and Carrie Taylor was walking in. Erika saved me from having to explain what was going on, and the two of them immediately pulled out phones and started scrolling through their phonebooks. “Who do we know? They can come over during lunchtime tomorrow and Friday, that’s all we need.” By the time they put the phones down we’d lined up 15 people to come by and pitch in. “Babe, we got this,” they said. “This is totally do-able. You’ve done things a lot harder than this, and besides, people like to feel useful. You’re really doing them a favor, giving them an opportunity to be helpful!” Then they came back to my house, finished packing up my kitchen, and totally set me right.

I am the luckiest, most blessed person I know.

Tuesday, 7-22-08

I filled out what appeared to be an entirely superficial application today after work, and took pictures of the condo for lp. I think this is it. I think we’ll spend the next year here, me forcing myself through my last year of law school, and her doing the best she can to salvage something out of the dregs of middle school. We’re in transition, but to my very great relief, I’m getting us into a safe space for it.