Town House Visit

We had a fun weekend in Reno and Carson City and enjoyed spending time with H..  He played slots with  me and Black Jack with his dad and while we didn't come home ahead, we didn't come home broke either - so that's a win.  We called it a Family Lalapalooza weekend - J. and H. also had massages yesterday morning before we headed home - a nice treat. 

We got the keys to the town house we are renting in Carson City and got to see it for the first time - it is nice and will be fine.  The decor is a little 'dark' for my tastes - darker brown carpeting, darkish taupe paint on the walls and dark wood cabinetry throughout - but it's pretty.  J. took measurements and we're starting to figure out how to fit the pieces of furniture we are moving with us into the various spaces.  Half the size of this house - so things like the electric piano are hard to place.  But we'll make it work. 

There has been progress on our house as well - tons of lumber there and pretty sure a lot of framing will happen this week.  We also have subfloor down - so we can start to see the rooms.  When we look at it as it is now, some spaces seem so small - but I'm sure the house will be fine - it's not a small house. 

H. will head to Houston this coming Sunday and I shared with him yesterday how I was feeling emotional about it all.  Then I realized I was being a terrible mother - focusing on me and my feelings primarily - when he burst into sobs in the car on the way home.  He said 'I'm just going to miss you guys so much'.  And I said 'we feel the same'.  It's a good fresh start for all of us.  Later, when our emotions were a bit more in check, I asked him - saying "I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be honest about it - do you really want to go to Houston?".  His immediate reply was 'yes, I do'.   He said he's had offers from friends to stay in Tracy?  But he really doesn't want to stay here.  I think he feels like we do - we love Tracy and have been very happy here - it is and always will be (and will always feel like) home.  Time for fresh beginnings and new adventures. 

I'm planning on saying my goodbyes here at the house and J. will do the airport transport.  I think both of your parents losing it as you get in the security line to leave would be bad.  I'll lose it in the privacy of our house and will hopefully be better by the time J. gets home. 

We should get champagne out and celebrate - and we just might.  But more low key since this is the third time H. has moved out. 

We signed all the mortgage docs on Friday in our realtor's office.  I nudged the new owners about the payment needed for the furniture items they are buying.  They asked if they could drive out and drop it off on Sunday and I said 'no, we're out of town. Just write me a check and put in the mail to me - it should reach us by Tuesday'.  Sunday, I'm sitting at a slot machine in a very noisy casino when I get a call - she said 'I can't find your mailbox to put the check in'.  I said 'I'm sorry - having a hard time hearing you - but you can't put something in our mailbox since it's a US postal mailbox and you aren't the mail delivery person'.  I asked her to put the check under the front door mat - and she sent me a pic of her having slid the envelope between the door and door frame - so I immediately called and said (to her husband who answered - I think it is her husband - at this point, I'm honestly not sure they are married) 'please don't leave it there - it will get stolen.  Please put it under the mat so it isn't visible'.  It was there when we got home yesterday and I'm heading to the bank to cash it. 

It is 11:45AM and in 15 minutes, we will no longer own this home.  Feels a wee bit sad but mostly feels great to have it sold and to be a huge step closer to our next great adventure. 

This week, we will get H.'s stuff packed up and organized.  We have a Salvation Army pickup scheduled for Friday and whatever they won't take will be put on the curb for a city trash pickup.  Today, we'll put the free couch out again - so far, no takers.  But there's still time. 

I shared how sad I felt about H. leaving and how I felt like I'd messed up being so emotional about it with my friend C. (who by the way texted me just as I was starting an email to her) and she said 'give yourselves permission to have all the 'feels' (as they call emotions at her house).  There have been a lot of big changes for all of you so of course there's a lot of emotions happening'.  And J. basically said the same thing - we'll all be having our fair share of suspense, sadness, etc. about H.'s departure - but we can also all remind ourselves how grateful we are for technology that makes it easier to be in touch.  Facetime, email, texting - as H. said 'I'm going to be in touch with you guys all the time'.  I hope so!

To fresh beginnings and new adventures.  To being renters for the next five-ish months.  To getting used to a new state, new city.  To watching our dream house be built before our eyes and not having to drive 3.5 hours to see the progress!  And to looking forward to friends, family and our sons visiting often.