Motel Sweet Motel

Friday, July 30, 2010 at 10 p.m.

A beautiful day for loading a 26-foot U-Haul with all our earthly belongings to began a new journey in life! Lots of friendly sunshine. Good Friends. Hours of hard work! Many hugs and good-byes for a long time!

Philip spent the night last night on his way to a family reunion and also grandpa Cash's 90th birthday celebration in Michigan. Olive and Duane were here and spent the night sleeping on a single mattress on the floor! Everything was packed and ready for two hired movers and several good friends who were here to help us today!

U-Haul took an hour to get our truck and 12-foot trailer ready this morning. We promptly rejected the trailer when we saw the mammoth truck! Thank goodness we didn't get the bothersome trailer. I was very worried that we'd need it, but some people have enough trouble driving a 26-foot truck, much less a wiggling trailer that prevents you from backing up in tight spots...

The two hired movers were early at 9:30 this morning! They were hired through U-Haul, and it was the best moving money ever spent. Those guys were on FIRE and really saved the day for us. Even though they told us that what we had would take at least three hours to load, we asked them to get the heavy things on - and they did so professionally FAST and with such a good attitude, that we still marvel at what they accomplished in those two hours! (Yep, they got a good tip!)

Plus, we had Philip who helped for about an hour before he had to leave for Michigan. Johnnie Ford (Jones), her husband and son came from Springfield, and were great volunteer helpers! Zach's mother, Beth, brought John's wife, Denise, and Beth's boyfriend, Eugene, from Logan. The women helped so much with the last minute cleaning and vacuuming.

Eugene and Johnnie's husband continued after the movers left, helping Jim load and get everything from the garage. Son John stopped by after he got off work to find all the work done. At least we got a nice good-bye with him!

At one point, I was absolutely positive that we wouldn't get everything on the truck. I was sad for a little while thinking about what I'd have to give up, but the men rearranged the middle of the truck and got us a lot more room!

Thank GOODNESS, it all fit including my favorite plants.

Poor Jim didn't eat all day. I found him outside leaning against the house after everyone was gone, and I quickly rushed him over to Wendy's.

As we pulled out at 7:30 p.m. a quick request to my angels that hubby could maneuver the monster truck through the cars in the parking lot, proved successful as he made it around all the buildings and vehicles without a scratch! Then, I followed behind, clearing the way for him to get onto the Interstate! Whew! What a day! I took a picture on my iPhone of him driving ahead of me into the sunset! (Not downloaded yet.)

We have stopped for the night and part of Saturday at a Best Western in Englewood, Ohio, as we plan to refresh and rest awhile.

Olive drove the Saturn to Floyd and Tania's in Neoga, IL where we will pick him up on Sunday to drive the truck on to Denver. Hubby will drive the Saturn. I and Sir Ceasar are in the other car. We are packed to the gills, but I have a cooler with cold Dr. Pepper on the seat beside me, and hubby has his favorite Archway cookies to snack on while driving.

So far, we cannot find the cord for the laptop, so this might be the last posting if the battery goes too soon. Not to worry if we are silent for a day or two.

Sir Ceasar is traveling very well. He loves the motel room and the quietness after such last hectic changes in the house and with all the company. He's eating and using his kitty box. Now he's sleeping on the desk behind my computer with one eye open making sure I'm still here.

So far, so very, very good. We profusely thank all our friends who showed up to help today. And those who send best wishes too.

Many of you left thoughtful messages to me on Facebook. I love them all. Thanks!

Sweet dreams everyone!

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life
~Linda