Sunday, April 25, 2010

The Times, They Are A' Changing


No matter where I look in my world these days, there is change in the air. All three boys reached milestone birthdays in twenty-ten…Connor turned 13, Taylor turned 18 and Kevin turned 21. I do believe I may have to start referring to them as “da guys” in the very near future.

Add to that the enormous quantities of paperwork sent my way with regards to Kevin’s upcoming placement into a group home (he has autism and is graduating from special-ed “college” to his future, yet-to-be-determined new, supervised home), combined with the overwhelming paperwork for Taylor’s dorm and college admission for September and…well…yikes.

But that’s not all.

The people who own the home I am renting…the people who promised me a safe, uneventful three years of bliss…are foreclosing. Or short-selling…I'm convinced it's whichever is evidently the most painful, invasive, uncomfortable, inconvenient route to go for da boys and me. To say that the last six months have been hard is a serious understatement. I’ve been bullied and badgered…chided and confronted…basically treated like the gum on the bottom of someone’s shoe. I’ve been lied to, threatened, harassed and belittled. I’ve fought back and rallied…mainly due to my principles and secondly, due to the fact that I didn’t want to put Connor through another middle school change, as rentals are getting hard to come by in this neck of the woods. No kid should have to change schools twice in two years if it can be helped.

I’ve slowly begun packing…knowing that our time here is finite but not sure where our next home will ultimately be…until today. My sister Laura calls me to say there’s a rental in our local paper that sounds almost too good to be true. I’m on it like the ants that swarm all over a drop of Taylor’s spilled Sunkist orange soda. Within an hour, I’m writing the lady a check for the deposit. Three bedrooms, 1 ½ baths, fireplace, ceiling fans, flat level driveway!

We’re moving in two weeks.

Yes, I said 2 weeks. Am I ready? Nope. Am I worried? Nah. Will I make it? Uh-huh. Am I crazy? Probably…so it’s gonna be INSANE for the next few weeks. So bear with me, my lovely blogbuds…I shall travel with the speed-eth of light to move-eth into our new, improved, peaceful abode…where we shall be golden....and I will blog without worry...for an entire day and a half...before I'll undoubtedly find something new to worry about.

Oy.

Now. Someone pass me that packing tape…

diane rene said...

wow! congrats on the new place and good luck! don't be too eager for a new worry - they're like taxes ... they'll come no matter what.

Anonymous said...

Ha! Y'gotta catch a break sometimes Kathryn. Hopefully that deal won't just be too good to be true, it'll ACTUALLY be legit. Happy packing!

:)
xoxo

P.S. packing tape's right behind that there box sitting on that there floor in front of that there wall, those directions clear enough for ya?

Anonymous said...

Wow...that's really cool that you found something else so quickly. I hope your moving goes well and you don't forget anything too important. (;

Oddyoddyo13 said...

I'm so sorry you have to go through that. :( Its amazing that you're strong enough to blow it off like that! You're an admirable person Kathryn, and I wish you all the luck in the world.

Dreamfarm Girl said...

I'm so glad you found the perfect spot for you and da boys! Moving can be such an upheaval...but that you are going to great house and perfect for your youngest son to stay at the same school -- that makes it maybe a nice fresh start, away from the horrible lying, bullying landlords of the past year. YIKES. You don't need that! Also, I hope Kevin's move goes well and he adjusts easily and you do too. That sounds like enough to have on your mind just by itself. But congrats to him for graduating and for your middle son graduating high school. Major milestones indeed!

Spot said...

I love the right place right time feel about you finding a place. It's Karma paying you back for all those pay it forwards that you do. I will send out loads of positive vibes that it's an awesome place, smooth-ish transition (we can't ask for too much you know), and that you find that packing tape.

Go Kathryn!!!


♥Spot

Christopher said...

Hope the move goes well. I hate hate hate moving. Don't get too stressed or anything.

Kelly@MentalGarbage said...

Good luck with your move! I hope you like your new place!

Lauren said...

RIGHT ON! Congrats on your new place! Maybe with this change other things will fall into place and the next six months will be easier. Emphasis on 'er'. I'm rooting for you.

cody said...

Congrats! Glad you caught a good place. Best of luck with the move.

Alan W. Davidson said...

Great news on the new location! We've moved quite a bit, over the years. My son (14) would kill us if we forced him to move again! The tape? I suggest keeping half a dozen rolls about, scattered in various locations...

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Good luck with the move. I'm suprised you can still find the computer I know when we had only two weeks left before moving I had everything packed away - it was so bad that we were left with the kettle, 2 mugs, our toiletries and a change of clothing for each day we had left - verging on the obsesive, don't you think.

Runnergirl said...

Good luck with the move - and well done for keeping sane in past months!

My top tips for moving:

- keep a radio out so you have some upbeat music playing to the bitter end - and get it out first in the new home so you can boogie along as you unpack.
- put your pictures/photos up first - that way, even if you're surrounded by boxes, it will still feel a little bit like home.

Good luck! You'll make it a home in no time.

Bobby Allan said...

That's FABULOUS news, Sweetie! And a FLAT driveway to boot??

I wish I could be there to help you pack. Well, not really, but it sounded nice, didn't it? :-)

JP said...

You will always do better with a deadline...

Good luck! If nothing else this will provide you with ample blogging and twittering material...

brite said...

Bon Courage Kathryn! I get the feeling that you will breeze through this because it's a POSITIVE move.Take care, don't stress and let us know if you get too crazy!

Betsy said...

Wow, hang in there! The good part: gaining some awesome new stories to tell. :)

Gigi said...

Two weeks? Wow. Good luck finding that tape....I'd help you out if I could but with the distance and all.....

If anyone can pull it off you can! Plus you got da 3 guys there to help haul the heavy stuff.

Tinkerschnitzel said...

Moving sucks, but I became an expert in packing when very young. I now am expected to help all my friends pack and move because I'm so OCD about it. Glad you found a place, and glad I don't have to fly to NY to help! Love ya!!

Unknown said...

Oh man... I'm so glad that you found something you like! I am in the same boat, with my rental being on the bubble. I need a new place like, yesterday. Of course... being the responsible girl that I am, when I heard I needed to move, I said to heck with it and went to Mexico instead. Now I'm home and need to find something and there is NOTHING that I can afford. Guess I'll live in my tent? I have no idea what to do.

I hope that the move goes smoothly and that you find peace in your new digs!

Momiji chan said...

you think having change is a good thing ? ha ha ^_^

Carol said...

At least you have da boys to "help" Now that i've said that I feel sorrier for you than I did before,I should fly in and help, do you have wine? Or should I bring my own? Do you even know where the corkscrew is? Frantically helping you mentally pack. Does that help at all?

Tia said...

Oh, God Bless you darlin'. That is a heck of a challenge but I;m so glad it worked out for you guys in a good way. :) We are busy packing up around here too, my sis is moving across the country and has to be out of her place in 8 days. Sending good thoughts your way!

Unknown said...

Glad you've found a new place! Hopefully the annoyance you've been through over the last few months will be it and the move will go smoothly. Crossing my fingers for you - good luck!

kathryn said...

diane rene: I know! It's always something, right? I'll just be glad to have this one (major) thing back on track! Home needs to be peaceful!

Fierce: Ha! I'm remaining cautiously optimistic that this is where we're meant to be. Found the tape! It was just where you said it was. Thanks, sweets!

Gavin: Yeah, we were lucky. Although I've been testing the waters for a while, this one seems meant to be. (I hope!)

kathryn said...

Oddyoddyo13: Oh, thank you, sweetie! What a kind thing to say! Hey, I figure when life throws crap at you, you can either get bitter and start throwing it at everyone else, or you stomp the crap down and use it to grow....a banana tree! Yeah, that's it!

DreamfarmGirl: Aw, thank you sweetie! Yes, I'm determined that this year of change will be all change for the better. Onward and upward...or else!

Spot: Thank you, sweetie! So very, very nice to hear such comforting words! Yes, I believe it'll be a huge blessing to get away from all this negativity. This place has gone from great...to okay...to bad...to worse. It's time.

kathryn said...

Christopher: I hate moving too! But I will say this: each time I move, I discover that I can make do with a lot less crap. I'm forced into streamlining my stuff simply because it's too much crap to move!

KellyGrrl: Thanks so much, honey. I'm sure it's gonna be great! I'm feeling more positive about it every day.

Lauren: Oh, I LOVE this idea! And that IS the plan, doll. We're on a roll and it's gonna KEEP GETTING BETTER. I may have to insist on it!

kathryn said...

cbk50266: Thank you! I'm so relieved...with this housing crisis, rentals are a hot commodity.

Alan W. Davidson: Excellent idea on the tape! Yes, Connor's 13 and although he says he'll handle a possible school move, I simply can't do that to him. Enough!

...Petty Witter: But...how did you function for two whole weeks without your computer? This is unfathomable to me! Laptop'll get closed when the moving truck is ready to roll. Not one minute before.

kathryn said...

Runnergirl: Hey! You're not gonna believe this but I was just thinking about you! Aw, excellent tips, sweetie...thank you. I will remember...and will think of you as I boogie my way to a new home!

Chrissy: Uh, yeah! It sounded very nice, till I realized you were just being polite! C'mon...don't you want to hop on a plane and spend some vacation days helping a friend MOVE??

JP: This is so true. And YES! I do much better with an actual deadline. Having only 2 weeks means I can focus (almost) all my energy on packing and moving and then be DONE.

kathryn said...

brite: Oh, you KNOW I'll let you know if I get too crazy...or if I don't...or when I do...or any combination thereof. You'll have to hear all about it. Thanks, sweetie!

Gingerella: That's right, doll. And you KNOW there has to be a story. When is there ever NOT a story?

Gigi: Oh, yeah...da boys are gonna have to pull their weight for this one! And okay...I'll give you this one 'cause of the distance...but the next time I need a ride to the airport, you'll be there for me, right??

kathryn said...

Tinkerschnitzel: Wait! Does this mean you're NOT coming?? Well, okay....just send me all your OCD tips, 'cause I'm crappy at packing!

SMOOG! Aw, honey. You and I have SO MUCH IN COMMON. And if I didn't have da boys, I'd have taken off WITH you! I do hope you find something. Call a realtor and ask her to question some sellers if they'd consider renting. I had some possible leads on that. Keep me posted!

uo-chan: I DO think change can be an EXCELLENT thing...don't you??

kathryn said...

Carol: Aw! You are so sweet! (And funny, too!) Honey, the corkscrew is the LAST thing I'll pack...it may just go in my bag! Is it bad if I have 5 boxes all marked "BAR"?

Tia: Wow....8 days?? That beats my deadline by...a LOT. And across the country? Are you sad? You must be...why does she have to go so far? (She whined)

ValleyWriter: Thanks, sweetie. I'm sure this move'll be for the better. It'll be great to just focus on the present, instead of wishing it away to get past all the CRAP.

Jenny said...

But....the bathtub. The magical, beautiful, wonderful bathtub? I'm going to need a moment....

Okay I'm ready. Congrats chicken! Wishing you a speedy move. :)

Bernadine said...

Hi

Good luck with the move. :)

Hopefully this one is for keeps as they say. :)

Anonymous said...

Good luck, my friend. : )

kathryn said...

Jenny: I KNOW! I'm taking as many baths as possible! Out of everything in this house, I think I'll miss bathtub most of all. Sigh.....

Bernadine: We'll see! I'm hoping for a stress-free existence and a place for most of my stuff. Then, I won't want to leave.

~:C:~ Thank you, sweetie. I'm happy to be moving on...

Jerry said...

I know the truth of it Kathryn. It will be a glorious adventure. That is you. Whatever comes, you turn into a glorious adventure. And that's why I adore you so.

kathryn said...

Jerry: Oh! This is one of the sweetest things anyone's ever said to me! Thank you. It's all about the adventure, right? I do believe we need to take something positive out of everything that's thrown our way. We can usually find something...right?

Alicia said...

Ohhhh, so that's why your moving. Ok, I understand now. Wow how great that you were able to find a place that suits your needs. You are one busy lady.

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