Five days before our big move, I suddenly noticed that I’d been packing and unpacking the backseat of our car for over a week around a pulley-like contraption of yarn and breath mint containers built by Huck.  As I contemplated how unacceptable and ridiculous this was and considered taking it all down, I decided it would be too much work and furthermore, I’d get in trouble by the architect.

Four days before our big move, Huck, who has hoarding tendencies like his father, discovered that I had secretly thrown away some of his most prized crap – a little post-it note left behind by Aunt Jeni that was ripped and had seen better days, a tiny rock, and some old Pokemon plastic wrappers that are supposed to be thrown away.  I tried not to smile, I really did, as he took deep breaths and expressed his disappointment in me for not understanding what’s important to him.

Three days before our big move, I accidentally rubbed hair gel all over my face.

Two days before our big move, Troy ran an important errand to Lowe’s for some last minute supplies, including much needed boxes to replace the ones we’ve used three moves in a row, but when he got home he realized he accidentally left them in the parking lot.

One day before our big move, we woke up to a mostly empty refrigerator and cupboards because I moved all our food into the new house the night before.  This did not bode well for Huck’s Field Day sack lunch, and I hoped rice cakes are more filling than they look.

Today, the day of our Very Last Move Ever, which was #13 for Troy and me and #4 for Huck, was the easiest one yet thanks to professional movers who did everything.  Dear friends over the years, we missed your companionship as we suffered together over and over again, but we were wrong to think it wasn’t worth the money. (Though I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.)

By nightfall the four of us sat around the fire on a chilly Arkansas evening as I ran out of words.

Hello, Anne House!

Goodbye, Olive House!