Tomorrow’s the big day.  We say goodbye to the only home Huck’s ever known and hello to his second, more spacious one!  A few days ago I was in the laundry room visiting with an elderly neighbor who told me that after 43 years at 1380 Riverside Drive, she’s finally leaving to go live near her daughter in Pennsylvania.  She and her husband, who passed away a couple of years ago on Huck’s birthday, raised their children in this building and therefore could not resist making over Huck every time we rode the elevator with them, retelling stories about the years when their children were his size.  The other day she smiled and said, “This is my last wash.”  I can only imagine the memories she’s been packing up.

For years Huck has said he wants us to be like Grandma and Grandpa Hottman, staying in the same home so that he can visit it when he’s an adult.  And while it would have been nice to have given him that gift (one that I’m so thankful my parents gave to me and my sisters), the thought of staying in this apartment for the rest of our lives gives me a stiff neck and a nervous eye twitch.  It’s been a mostly wonderful almost-seven years, but we are quite happy to move on.  Mostly I’m excited to have my very own nightstand in my very own bedroom!  (Troy’s going to share a bedroom with Huck, right?)   (Oh, just joking!)  (But seriously, that nightstand is all mine.)

Here’s a guided tour through our box-filled apartment, led by Huck and his Halloween cookie.  Next stop, Bennett Avenue!

If you look closely you can see part of Huck’s amazing volcano costume in this last picture.  And you can also see Troy frantically digging through a box looking for an extra cell phone, as he lost his yesterday.  This morning he almost reopened that same box to look for an ankle wrap, as he fell down some stairs last night and twisted one of his.  Oh, Troy!  Pull yourself together!