Tick Tock...

...goes the countdown clock until I move, just a short 10 days away.  Why, might you ask, am I blogging?  Why not, I reply? I have found it quite necessary to take "mental breaks" in various forms through this process.  While I can no longer justify a nap, for the next ten days, at least, I can find small moments in which to do something menial and mind-freeing from the decision making I'm having to continuously do. 

I'm writing this as my cousin Johna watches the "new" Footloose movie.  I assure you, I am NOT participating in this viewing experience, so this proves the perfect opportunity for a quick blog post.  This is also the last night I'll have my sofa, so it's a more comfortable time to do this post.  

So here's how I'm doing...

I've been steadily getting through the piles of accumulated memorabilia and paperwork my family has been collecting for eons well, it feels that way).  Needless to say, it hasn't been an easy road, both physically and mentally.  My family photos (4,099 to be exact), have been scanned/digitized, of which, I had to go through each and every one first.  The haunting faces of my loved ones who have left this world, have brought up a veritable roller coaster of emotions.  Needless to say, my mental state has teetered on joyous one moment, and heart-broken the next.  

Those same emotions have come up time and time again as I have gone through what some would see as mere chotskies but to me, are meaningful scraps of the history of my family.  Tough decisions have had to be made in terms of what to keep, donate, and give away.  I've tried my hardest to ensure that the objects and things my family used and cherished will be also treasured by those who receive them.  

So for me, packing isn't just packing.  It's making sure the priceless memories you've been entrusted with are packed securely/passed on to the best people.  No pressure at all, absolutely none.  

I need all of the prayers/thoughts/good juju/wishes you can send my way so that the next 10 days sees my house emptied, my cats easily put on planes, and the delivery of us all to our new home overseas.  

Photo of my paternal grandparents

Packing, and wrapping, and moving, oh my!

I've been a busy girl with the intensive sorting I've been doing.  Boxes and stuff are everywhere in my land known as "controlled chaos." To an outsider, I'm sure my packing looks messy but indeed, it's not.  I have specifically boxes placed for donations to the library, donations to family, donations to charity, stuff to store, and most of all, large black bags of trash.  I think I've done pretty well this week, considering the insane heat around here.  My move date (officially August 6) is getting closer, so I'm in total crazy mode.

The crazy chaos is being abated by the support of friends, family, and a sense of purpose.  I'm grateful to those people who are helping me on this journey to my new adventure.

The cats are FINALLY ready to fly!  An afternoon at the vet's yesterday, with shots and all sorts of checkups performed, and they're ready to go!  All that's left is to finish the house.

To lighten the mood a bit, I wondered what I will do if I have extra bubble wrap once the packing is done.  As a compulsive popper, I've been entirely too good at staying away from those tempting bubbles.  I most certainly will pop the crap out of the rest (if there are leftovers) of that stuff in celebration of being finished.  Others, however, have found more em, interesting we'll say, ways of using the 'wrap.  Enjoy the photos and keep on poppin'!

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