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September Transitions

September was a busy month in our household and one of ups and downs. You've already read about our Savannah trip that began the month…and I'll write again soon about the Miami+Mexico trip that came at the end of the month. Sandwiched between those trips was a major endeavor: project move-a-parent. :)


I worked diligently the first 2 weeks in September to get a lease arranged for my parents with a senior apartment complex the next town over (Woodbridge, VA), purchased all the furniture they would need for them home as well as household supplies (linens, dishes, etc), and had all the utilities turned on in their name at their new home. Tried to get as much set up for them so that when they arrived they could just slip into easy living at their new place. They're on the 3rd floor so it was a lot of trips back and forth from the car with things! Several days I was over at their apartment from the time I got off work until well after midnight putting the final touches on things. All the while trying to keep up with major work deadlines as well.


Finally the big moment came and on Friday Sept 12th I flew to El Paso, TX. From the airport there I rented a car and drove to Roswell, NM (3 hours) where my parents live. Visited with my folks a bit but primarily spent Friday evening helping them pack up their clothes, medicines and essential financial docs to bring with them. Everything else was staying behind as the investor buying their property was buying it as-is. Spent a lot of time shredding old financial records and talking Mom out of taking things that were not essential. Saturday morning we attended the closing on the house and then my parents' friends came over to say their goodbyes. Soon we were off, on our way to El Paso. We stopped at the cemetery in town so that Daddy could have one last look at his parents grave, but nobody could remember where in the cemetery it was! We got to El Paso, spent the night and then Sunday morning flew back to the DC area. One of my good friends Dani met us at the airport, as did Jonathan, knowing we had too much stuff for just 1 car. It was pretty overwhelming. Basically from Wed the 10th- that Sunday evening I'd had maybe a total of 8 hours of sleep. I was exhausted.


We dropped my parents off at their new place and as the weeks wore on they became more settled in their apartment. There were a lot of doctor appointments the first two weeks but things have calmed down now. We did find out that my dad has severe cataracts to the point that he can barely see. He just didn't want to tell anyone before and hadn't been properly examined by an eye doctor for a long time.


I am very glad my parents are here, but it has been a big adjustment for everyone. I haven't lived at home since I was 14 and I haven't lived in the same town as my parents since I was 20. We are all still working out living so close together and how to relate to each other now that I'm grown and they're needing more help with things.

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