It seems like the last time I blogged, the Cubs were a good team in the National League, Obama had all the answers, people were still talking about Michael Jackson and swine flu was a thing of the past. It feels even longer since we first moved into our house but between Roo’s last post and now, not only have we celebrated two years of home ownership but we have visited Chicago, cleaned the garage, sold the garage and prepared for a temporary change of residence.
Sweet Home Chicago: For work, Riley not only had to travel to Chicago but was working in my old neighborhood for the week. I had a voucher for a roundtrip flight and both the Cubs and Bears had home games on Thursday of said week. These events converged like the perfect storm. By mid-week, Roo received some moral support to a rough work week from yours truly. Thursday, within hours of each other, we attended games at both Wrigley and Soldier Field. We panoramically viewed Windy City and seemingly saw California, gazing west from 1300 feet in the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower with only about 6 inches of glass between our feet and the Chicago River below. We ended the trip with some deep dish pizza and a surprise upgrade onto an earlier flight.
Home Sweet Home: While the Chicago trip was all fun and play for me, Roo was busy at work all week and a stressful week it was. By week’s end she was worn out and longed for the soft sheets of our bed, sweet tea and all other things Carolina. Because of this, I did not complain when she was upgraded to first class on the flight home while I flew coach. She didn’t complain when Max, out of excitement, peed on her jeans upon greeting us as we walked in the front door.
Home Improvement: Over the past two years, our garage has evolved from a shelter for at least one of the cars, to an accumulation of all unused, out of season and otherwise not-fit-to-be-placed-in-any-other-room items we own. The garage needed an overhaul and that’s what we gave it. Through thoughtful planning and design, we added some shelves and a Gladiator tool rack to establish some order in the large-scale version of a junk drawer. Let me say that this customizable “wall system” lived up to the name of the movie as far as manliness is concerned. During the renovation, I truly felt as if HGTV was filming and our final results were emmy-winning.
Yard Sale: Some of the garage clean-up meant creating a temporary pile in the center of the floor, stuff that wasn’t going to stay. We were up at 5:15 this morning, preparing to greet the waves of bargain hunters with a wide assortment of items from our past. Along with neighbors and friends Lori and Will, we had a fairly successful rummage sale. Considering I would have paid someone to get most of these things out of my garage, coming out with a little extra cash at the end of the day was rewarding. No amount of money however can present a feeling as rewarding as helping out someone in need. We “met” many strangers today and while some didn’t have they felt like spending in the form of conversation, others shared their stories while we shared a couple hundred square feet of grass. One neighbor’s friend had lost nearly everything in a house fire, another visitor has been without a job for over a year, another couple shared the joy of a new house, while another shared the joy of an older child moving out of their house into one of his own. Some things we “sold” for no price at all, and at times felt like we should “pay” for the good feeling.
Home Away from Home: One of Saturday morning’s shoppers keyed us in on the Hospice and Community Care organization. Instead of taking our unsold items to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, we donated all of the remaining clothes, toys, books, dishes, etc. to the local organization that for over 20 years has provided compassionate care to those with very special needs in our area. It felt very good to donate to a cause that hits so close to home. Next week, Riley’s mom will begin the 11+ week stem cell transplant; procedures and emotions that I couldn’t do justice trying to describe in this entry. This trying time will be filled with faith, prayers, hope and tears…and dirty dishes piled up in the sink. Riley’s mom will temporarily relocate for proximity to the hospital and to allow close monitoring by her doctor during the procedure. Riley will be at her mom’s side for as much of the next 3 months as the Hippocratic Oath allows. A very distant and secondary effect of this process means that I will be driving the war effort on the homefront alone. More prayers, hope, faith and tears. I would ask they all go to support Riley’s mom’s health and Riley’s strength in support, but if you can spare a moment and a prayer, I could certainly use it.
Home is where the heart is, and my heart may have never felt healthier than it does now. Through all the trials, tribulations, travels and treats we’ve experienced and been blessed with thus far, I’ve never felt more true to the fact that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing, living the life I am supposed to live. I’ve never felt more at home.
