Goodwill came on Thursday, for all the things too big for me to bring to them.
Habitat for Humanity came on Friday, to take away the refrigerator and chest freezer, because Goodwill doesn't accept appliances.
Sanford & Son came on Saturday morning, for everything that remained. I thought our desk, wider than the door, might be a problem, but they brought a power saw and cut it into four chunks.
Then I swept up the sawdust, loaded the car, and slept my last night in the apartment. Now it's Sunday morning, and after posting this, I'll have one last omelet at my favorite diner in Madison, and begin the drive from Wisconsin to Washington.
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| (not actually my vehicle) |
Like everyone else, I'm a better than average driver. I don't like
driving, though, so I'll go just a few hundred miles daily until I'm there.
It's not quite a phobia, but whenever I get into a car, whether driving or riding, I'm aware that there's no more dangerous way to travel. You're dead if the wrong person hiccups at the wrong moment.
If I die on the freeway, please accept my apologies for the last thirty years. Always loved y'all, even when I was a long ways away.
With good hiccups luck, I'll be there by next week at this time. I'm looking forward to getting to know the immediate family again, and
some extended family I've barely or never met.
Our next feature film for family and friends, Superman, has
been postponed to April 24 — and as always, you're invited. See the
sidebar for details. It'll be a virtual screening, but by May's movie (In the Good Old Summertime) I'm hoping to be somewhat settled and ready for real life.
I'm the mellow dude in hippie duds (see photo, above), and I'm not angry, but this could grow into problem, so let me say simply — Even in a family, good
manners is a good idea.
• When you've asked me to do something and I've said no, please respect that answer. Asking over and over again, hoping for yes after I've said no, is rude.
• Someone signed me up with a job-search company. Emails arrive three times daily, with info on jobs I'm not qualified for, at companies that wouldn't hire me. So far I've 'unsubscribed' four times, to no avail. Signing someone up for spam, without asking, is rude.
• Most of our family is religious, but I'm not. I'll respect your religion, and ask you to respect my lack. Wanna tell me what happened at church on Sunday? I'll listen cheerfully and in good spirits. Wanna tell me that *I* should be in church on Sunday? That's rude.
We'll all be happier if we're polite, OK?
The final stats, for moving:
• 244 walks to the dumpster, most with 30-gallon bins.
• 101 walks to the recycling dumpster.
• 11 walks back, because the dumpsters were full.
• 7 drives to Goodwill.
• 3 trucks making 5 trips, hauling stuff away.
And now, in the car:
• 8 milk crates of mementos, kitchenware, blankets, underwear, electronics, a space heater, and all sorts of assorted crap.
• 1 laundry basket and several bags and boxes and pickle barrels full of stuff that didn't fit into the milk crates.
• 1 cat who's not enjoying this at all.
• Me.
Seattle or bust!