Thursday, February 15, 2007

Echoey

I'll leave Florida as I arrived five years ago-- in a Corolla, in the spring, entirely unsure of just why Carson Daly continues to have a career.

Josh The Pilot, and just about everything I own, carefully preserved snapshots of these two bees who hang around my office window included, backed out of the driveway this morning. I did not stand by the window to see it all go. Largely because it was six AM, and blowy, and the Daytona 500 is this weekend and I did not wish to be hit by a stray 24-pack of Boone's Farm.

The packing process, as expected, was atrocious and soul-sucking, with the usual expectation that all was well, and there were plenty of boxes with bubble wrap for all, and then I would open a cabinet and oh, crap, the shot glass collection.

If it weren't for the wedding gown in the closet, you would think one of my male freshman students live here. My apartment is now decorated in Early Bachelor, complete with wide, dominant television and no books in sight. I shall ask around for a Hooter's banner to tack to the wall and perhaps some sort of neon lighting to accent the toilet bowl. Yes, a Hooter's banner, with plastic Bud Light flags stapled all around!

Major thanks go to Lois and Tim The Pending Parents-In-Law for their much-appreciated moving assistance yesterday. I left to teach, and when I came back the truck was locked down and my apartment was quiet. I approached slowly, with cookies, fearful that perhaps some invader had balled up everything that was mine, Josh included, and simply hurled it into the sea. But when I opened the door, he and his parents were sitting quietly on the floor, watching Whose Wedding Is it Anyway and fretting over the fact that an 800-pound bride had opted for a strapless, cleavage-intensive dress. So in a glance I realized that I would not have to lift anything heavy anymore, and I felt thin. I like this family.

I suppose I should feel some sort of emptiness now that the Truck of Crap Express has departed without me, but it's really rather delightful. Less dusting! More room to drop-kick small animals!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Moving stinks, doesn't it?

But I'll tell you from recent experience that packing is far worse than unpacking. Honestly.

The part about the 800-pound bride made me laugh very hard. I don't know if that means I have a good sense of humor or if I'm just cruel... :-/

Anonymous said...

sorry if this has been asked and answered somewhere else, but what will you be doing when you get to my home state besides being a fabulous author?

Anonymous said...

Tim and Lois are cool (Josh too!), glad you like the family. We like you too!

Josh The Pilot said...

The Truck of Crap Express has pulled into the residence of Doug and Samantha The Cousins for the night. Much thanks for the bed and breakfast services before I head to Cincy tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

I'll be teaching a couple classes, Laura, at some poor sucker college yet to be determined :) I'll also be working with the Air and Space Museum, probably with Enterprise at the new annex.

HelloBettyLou said...

Can I borrow Tim, Lois and Josh in June, i am moving too. You can totally come too.

Anonymous said...

Ah, sweet schadenfreude (well, sort of anyway). Nothing wrong with the 800 lb bride making you feel better. Those little 'smile' moments are what keep our self esteem up.

Ophelia said...

You should have sublet your "empty" apartment this weekend! Think of the cash you might've made - more than enough to cover your lost security deposit!

Boone's Farm comes in a 24-pack??

Anonymous said...

No books left??? how will you survive?!

Anonymous said...

MB was so organized in her packing. Boxes of books were either labeled "Books - read" or "Books - unread". I wish we had been so organized when we packed our stuff in Nov 04. Now I'm trying to find stuff and feel like I'm going to have to open everything to find anything.

We're glad we were around to help load the truck on this end. :)

Anonymous said...

I moved nearly a year ago (only from Cincy to Mason, but it was still quite painful) and I still can't find my DVDs. I swear I labeled the box! Argh!

Fess up - you put some books in a bag to carry with you, right?

OSA said...

"Pending Parents-in-law" Love it!
Have fun unpacking, it does feel good when the last box is packed away.
Wait, you have the wedding dress sitting in the closet? Can we get a peek at it? Probably not, but you never know what you can get until you ask for it, right?

Anonymous said...

RPJ and Monica know me too well. There's a healthy stash of books-- you just can't see them. I made a place for them before even the wedding dress!

Anonymous said...

It's Daytona 500 time! Where is the commentary by JTP? MB comments during the horsey superbowl; my brother has some training ahead of him, I suppose.

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